In Vivo Biological Behavior of Polymer Scaffolds of Natural Origin in the Bone Repair Process

Abstract

Autologous bone grafts, used mainly in extensive bone loss, are considered the gold standard treatment in regenerative medicine, but still have limitations mainly in relation to the amount of bone available, donor area, morbidity and creation of additional surgical area. This fact encourages tissue engineering in relation to the need to develop new biomaterials, from sources other than the individual himself. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of an elastin and collagen matrix on the bone repair process in critical size defects in rat calvaria. The animals (Wistar rats, n = 30) were submitted to a surgical procedure to create the bone defect and were divided into three groups: Control Group (CG, n = 10), defects filled with blood clot; E24/37 Group (E24/37, n = 10), defects filled with bovine elastin matrix hydrolyzed for 24 h at 37 °C and C24/25 Group (C24/25, n = 10), defects filled with porcine collagen matrix hydrolyzed for 24 h at 25 °C. Macroscopic and radiographic analyses demonstrated the absence of inflammatory signs and infection. Microtomographical 2D and 3D images showed centripetal bone growth and restricted margins of the bone defect. Histologically, the images confirmed the pattern of bone deposition at the margins of the remaining bone and without complete closure by bone tissue. In the morphometric analysis, the groups E24/37 and C24/25 (13.68 ± 1.44; 53.20 ± 4.47, respectively) showed statistically significant differences in relation to the CG (5.86 ± 2.87). It was concluded that the matrices used as scaffolds are biocompatible and increase the formation of new bone in a critical size defect, with greater formation in the polymer derived from the intestinal serous layer of porcine origin (C24/25).

Effects of a Biocomplex Formed by Two Scaffold Biomaterials, Hydroxyapatite/Tricalcium Phosphate Ceramic and Fibrin Biopolymer, with Photobiomodulation, on Bone Repair

“…In this scenario, and in the face of critical bone defects, the use of biomaterials has gained space in pre-clinical research [ 8 , 9 ]. An ideal bone substitute must present important characteristics such as the release of growth factors that enhance bone neoformation, promote a framework, and favor a microenvironment that enhances tissue growth [ 10 ].…”

In Vivo Study of Nasal Bone Reconstruction with Collagen, Elastin and Chitosan Membranes in Abstainer and Alcoholic Rats

“…Notably, the quality and preservation of the tissues in the surgical area and adjacent to it observed upon macroscopic inspection, in the absence of clinical signs of infectious processes and/or necrosis in soft or bone tissue, indicate the biocompatibility of the biomaterials [ 32 , 45 ]. This fact was observed in all groups receiving the extracellular matrix implants (G2 to G4 and G6 to G8).…”

“…The collagen matrix was derived from bovine intestinal serosa and the elastin matrix from bovine auricular cartilage. The manufacturing process of matrices and their characterizations have been described in detail in previously published studies [ 16 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 ]. In summary, the bovine serosa and auricular cartilage were washed exhaustively in 0.9% saline (NaCl) and distilled water.…”

Collagen-chitosan-hydroxyapatite composite scaffolds for bone repair in ovariectomized rats

“…In addition, chitosan exhibits the essential characteristics for a scaffold material since it is nontoxic and exerts antimicrobial activity 28 – 30 . In view of its properties and three-dimensional structure, this natural polymer has been used in experimental studies of bone reconstruction, which demonstrated its biocompatibility and biodegradability 7 , 31 , as well as important osteoconductive properties 11 , 30 .…”

“…Tissue engineering has been developing scaffolds that enable cell adhesion and proliferation 5,6 . Among these scaffolds, there are polymers that, due to their threedimensional structures and characteristics similar to biological tissues, have the ability to allow cell growth 7 .In vitro studies using collagen scaffolds have confirmed the suitability of polymers for bone reconstruction 8,9 , as well as for the regeneration of bone defects created experimentally in rats 10,11 . The advantages of collagen include properties such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, and cell interaction capacity 12 .…”