1. Augmentation of bone defect healing using a new biocomposite scaffold: An in vivo study in sheep
- Author
-
U. van der Pol, Pierre-Yves Zambelli, L. Mathieu, Stephan Zeiter, Ludovic Bouré, Pierre-Etienne Bourban, Dominique P. Pioletti, and S.G. Pearce
- Subjects
Scaffold ,biocomposite ,Materials science ,Bone substitute ,Biocompatibility ,Biomedical Engineering ,Biocompatible Materials ,Biochemistry ,Bone and Bones ,Osseointegration ,Biomaterials ,Tissue engineering ,In vivo ,medicine ,Animals ,Femur ,Molecular Biology ,Wound Healing ,Sheep ,Tissue Scaffolds ,bone substitute ,Organ Size ,X-Ray Microtomography ,General Medicine ,in vivo ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,PLA/β-TCP ,Bone Substitutes ,Female ,Biocomposite ,Cancellous bone ,Biotechnology ,Biomedical engineering - Abstract
Previous studies support resorbable biocomposites made of poly( l -lactic acid) (PLA) and β-tricalcium phosphate (TCP) produced by supercritical gas foaming as a suitable scaffold for tissue engineering. The present study was undertaken to demonstrate the biocompatibility and osteoconductive properties of such a scaffold in a large animal cancellous bone model. The biocomposite (PLA/TCP) was compared with a currently used β-TCP bone substitute (ChronOS™, Dr. Robert Mathys Foundation), representing a positive control, and empty defects, representing a negative control. Ten defects were created in sheep cancellous bone, three in the distal femur and two in the proximal tibia of each hind limb, with diameters of 5 mm and depths of 15 mm. New bone in-growth (osteoconductivity) and biocompatibility were evaluated using microcomputed tomography and histology at 2, 4 and 12 months after surgery. The in vivo study was validated by the positive control (good bone formation with ChronOS™) and the negative control (no healing with the empty defect). A major finding of this study was incorporation of the biocomposite in bone after 12 months. Bone in-growth was observed in the biocomposite scaffold, including its central part. Despite initial fibrous tissue formation observed at 2 and 4 months, but not at 12 months, this initial fibrous tissue does not preclude long-term application of the biocomposite, as demonstrated by its osteointegration after 12 months, as well as the absence of chronic or long-term inflammation at this time point.
- Published
- 2010
- Full Text
- View/download PDF