Statement of the ProblemAutologous bone is the suitable graft material for sinus lift procedure. However, there are some disadvantages to this bone graft, such as the limited availability of donor site, the severe pain in the donor site, and severe absorption of grafted bone. We have demonstragted that gelatin hydrogels are effective as a carrier for the controlled release of basic fibrobrast growth factor (bFGF) to enhance the bone regeneration. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the novel graft material for sinus lift procedure by controlled release of bFGF and biodegradable ceramics.Materials and MethodsThe bFGF was dropped onto gelatin hydrogel microspheres to obtain the bFGF-incorporated gelatin hydrogel microspheres. Four materials were grafted into frontal sinus of beagle dogs; β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) and bFGF-incorporated gelatin hydrogel microspheres, β-TCP and physiological saline-incorporated gelatin hydrogel microspheres, β-TCP and bFGF solution, and autologous bone harvested from iliac bone.Method of Data AnalysisThe animals ware sacrificed at 4 and 12 weeks after implantation, and augmented bone was evaluated by soft X-ray, histlogical and histomorphological examination, and enzyme-histochemistry.ResultsWhen the β-TCP and bFGF-incorporated gelatin hydrogel microspheres were grafted, newly formed bone tissue volume was larger than those of other groups. Many osteoclast-like cells around β-TCP were also observed at 4 weeks after implantation. This finding indicated that bFGF-incorporated gelatin hydrogel microspheres enables to effectively increase bone formation and enhance the bone remodeling.ConclusionWe concluded that β-TCP and bFGF-incorporated gelatin hydrogel microspheres was a novel promising graft material for sinus lift procedure, since it can be easily prepared and does not require an autologous bone harvest. Statement of the ProblemAutologous bone is the suitable graft material for sinus lift procedure. However, there are some disadvantages to this bone graft, such as the limited availability of donor site, the severe pain in the donor site, and severe absorption of grafted bone. We have demonstragted that gelatin hydrogels are effective as a carrier for the controlled release of basic fibrobrast growth factor (bFGF) to enhance the bone regeneration. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the novel graft material for sinus lift procedure by controlled release of bFGF and biodegradable ceramics. Autologous bone is the suitable graft material for sinus lift procedure. However, there are some disadvantages to this bone graft, such as the limited availability of donor site, the severe pain in the donor site, and severe absorption of grafted bone. We have demonstragted that gelatin hydrogels are effective as a carrier for the controlled release of basic fibrobrast growth factor (bFGF) to enhance the bone regeneration. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the novel graft material for sinus lift procedure by controlled release of bFGF and biodegradable ceramics. Materials and MethodsThe bFGF was dropped onto gelatin hydrogel microspheres to obtain the bFGF-incorporated gelatin hydrogel microspheres. Four materials were grafted into frontal sinus of beagle dogs; β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) and bFGF-incorporated gelatin hydrogel microspheres, β-TCP and physiological saline-incorporated gelatin hydrogel microspheres, β-TCP and bFGF solution, and autologous bone harvested from iliac bone. The bFGF was dropped onto gelatin hydrogel microspheres to obtain the bFGF-incorporated gelatin hydrogel microspheres. Four materials were grafted into frontal sinus of beagle dogs; β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) and bFGF-incorporated gelatin hydrogel microspheres, β-TCP and physiological saline-incorporated gelatin hydrogel microspheres, β-TCP and bFGF solution, and autologous bone harvested from iliac bone. Method of Data AnalysisThe animals ware sacrificed at 4 and 12 weeks after implantation, and augmented bone was evaluated by soft X-ray, histlogical and histomorphological examination, and enzyme-histochemistry. The animals ware sacrificed at 4 and 12 weeks after implantation, and augmented bone was evaluated by soft X-ray, histlogical and histomorphological examination, and enzyme-histochemistry. ResultsWhen the β-TCP and bFGF-incorporated gelatin hydrogel microspheres were grafted, newly formed bone tissue volume was larger than those of other groups. Many osteoclast-like cells around β-TCP were also observed at 4 weeks after implantation. This finding indicated that bFGF-incorporated gelatin hydrogel microspheres enables to effectively increase bone formation and enhance the bone remodeling. When the β-TCP and bFGF-incorporated gelatin hydrogel microspheres were grafted, newly formed bone tissue volume was larger than those of other groups. Many osteoclast-like cells around β-TCP were also observed at 4 weeks after implantation. This finding indicated that bFGF-incorporated gelatin hydrogel microspheres enables to effectively increase bone formation and enhance the bone remodeling. ConclusionWe concluded that β-TCP and bFGF-incorporated gelatin hydrogel microspheres was a novel promising graft material for sinus lift procedure, since it can be easily prepared and does not require an autologous bone harvest. We concluded that β-TCP and bFGF-incorporated gelatin hydrogel microspheres was a novel promising graft material for sinus lift procedure, since it can be easily prepared and does not require an autologous bone harvest.