2016 Volume 14 Issue 1 Pages 41-50
Bone defects are common in craniofacial surgery and orthopedics. Autogenous bone grafting involves a second surgery and is limited by availability of collectable bone. Therefore, bioabsorbable scaffolds with superior handling characteristics for surgical applications are required, which are replaceable by autologous tissue. We constructed collagen model polypeptides comprising a poly(PHG) made by polycondensation of Pro-Hyp-Gly and porous alpha-tricalcium phosphate (α-TCP) sponge as scaffold, by dehydrothermal crosslinking, and examined them on surgically formed canine mandibular bone defects. At 2 and 4 weeks post- implantation, bone volumetric densities (VD) for the poly(PHG)/α-TCP group were higher than those for poly(PHG) and no-implant groups. Difference in VD was insignificant among the three groups 8 weeks post-implantation. Histological evaluation 4 weeks post-implantation revealed degraded poly(PHG) and newly formed bone on the α-TCP particle surfaces. At 8 weeks post-implantation, continuous cortical bone formation with Haversian structure was observed in both implant groups. Therefore, this composite can be applied in bone defect treatment.
