Stimulation of healing within a rabbit calvarial defect by a PCL/PLGA scaffold blended with TCP using solid freeform fabrication technology

J Mater Sci Mater Med. 2012 Dec;23(12):2993-3002. doi: 10.1007/s10856-012-4761-9. Epub 2012 Sep 8.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the healing capacity within an 8-mm rabbit calvarial defect using a polycaprolactone (PCL)/poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) scaffold blended with tri-calcium phosphate (TCP) that was constructed using solid freeform fabrication (SFF) technology. The PCL/PLGA/TCP scaffold showed a 37 % higher compressive strength and rougher surface than the PCL/PLGA scaffold. In animal experiments, new bone formation was analyzed using microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) and histological and histometric analyses. The PCL/PLGA/TCP groups had significantly greater neo-tissue areas as compared with the control groups at 4 and 8 weeks (P < 0.05). The PCL/PLGA/TCP group had significantly greater bone density as compared with the control and PCL/PLGA groups at 4 and 8 weeks (P < 0.005). The results of this study suggest that the PCL/PLGA/TCP scaffold fabricated using SFF technology is useful for recovering and enhancing new bone formation in bony defects in rabbits.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biocompatible Materials / chemistry
  • Bone Regeneration
  • Bone and Bones / metabolism*
  • Calcium Phosphates / chemistry*
  • Compressive Strength
  • Computer Simulation
  • Lactic Acid / chemistry*
  • Male
  • Polyesters / chemistry*
  • Polyglycolic Acid / chemistry*
  • Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer
  • Rabbits
  • Stress, Mechanical
  • Surface Properties
  • Tissue Engineering / methods*
  • Tissue Scaffolds
  • Wound Healing
  • X-Ray Microtomography / methods

Substances

  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Calcium Phosphates
  • Polyesters
  • Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer
  • polycaprolactone
  • Polyglycolic Acid
  • Lactic Acid
  • tricalcium phosphate