Abstract
BackgroundThis study aimed to investigate the effects of silk fiber (SF)/calcium phosphate cement (CPC) biocomposite on repairing radial bone defects in rabbits.MethodsFour-month-old New Zealand rabbits were selected to create a bilateral radial bone defect model and divided into four groups according to implanted material: SF/CPC, SF/CPC/particulate bone (PB), PB, and control (C). The specimens were removed at four and eight postoperative weeks for general observation, X-ray examination, tissue slicing, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and biomechanical testing.ResultsPostoperative X-ray showed no bone defect repair in group C and different degrees of bone defect repair in the other three groups. Imaging, histology, and SEM showed the following: group SF/CPC formed fine trabecular bone in week 4, while the maximum bending load in group SF/CPC in week 4 was significantly different from those in the other groups (P < 0.05).ConclusionsSF/CPC has good biocompatibility and bone-inducing ability, demonstrating its bone defect-repairing ability.
Highlights
This study aimed to investigate the effects of silk fiber (SF)/calcium phosphate cement (CPC) biocomposite on repairing radial bone defects in rabbits
Animal grouping and modeling The 48 New Zealand rabbits were prepared for the bilateral radial bone defect model: 2 mL/kg chloral hydrate (10%, m/m) was injected via the ear vein for anesthesia, and one 25-mm-long incision was made on the radial side of the bilateral forelimbs to isolate and expose the radius; one rongeur was used to remove approximately 15 mm of periosteum-containing bone from the lower radial section
All of the rabbits received a postoperative plaster bandage for external fixation and were housed in the same environment; six rabbits in each group were killed in postoperative weeks 4 and 8 for general observation and imaging inspection of 12 bone defect sites at each designed time point, among which eight sites were subjected to biomechanical testing and four were subjected to histology and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)
Summary
This study aimed to investigate the effects of silk fiber (SF)/calcium phosphate cement (CPC) biocomposite on repairing radial bone defects in rabbits. Ideal bone defect repair materials should have the following qualities [3,4,5]: (1) sufficient mechanical properties and good biomechanical adaptation; (2) bone conduction; (3) osteoinductivity; (4) ability to provide osteoblasts; (5) ability to directly form bones; (6) good material–bone interface; and (7) good shapability. Autologous bone is the best material for repairing bone defect and can lead to ideal bone healing. Allogeneic bone can be sampled, its sources are richer than those of autogenous bone and it has some excellent tissue characteristics like autologous bone, it normally causes immune rejection due to antigenic differences among different species; it has such biosafety risks such as leading to infections and tumorigenesis. Further research is needed to find materials that can both meet the mechanical requirements and achieve ideal bone fusion. Wu et al achieved good results with one scaffolding material used in
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