A novel chitosan-γPGA polyelectrolyte complex hydrogel promotes early new bone formation in the alveolar socket following tooth extraction

PLoS One. 2014 Mar 21;9(3):e92362. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0092362. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

A novel chitosan-γPGA polyelectrolyte complex hydrogel (C-PGA) has been developed and proven to be an effective dressing for wound healing. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if C-PGA could promote new bone formation in the alveolar socket following tooth extraction. An animal model was proposed using radiography and histomorphology simultaneously to analyze the symmetrical sections of Wistar rats. The upper incisors of Wistar rats were extracted and the extraction sockets were randomly treated with gelatin sponge, neat chitosan, C-PGA, or received no treatment. The extraction sockets of selected rats from each group were evaluated at 1, 2, 4, or 6 wk post-extraction. The results of radiography and histopathology indicated that the extraction sockets treated with C-PGA exhibited lamellar bone formation (6.5%) as early as 2 wk after the extraction was performed. Moreover, the degree of new bone formation was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the extraction sockets treated with C-PGA at 6 wk post-extraction than that in the other study groups. In this study, we demonstrated that the proposed animal model involving symmetrical sections and simultaneous radiography and histomorphology evaluation is feasible. We also conclude that the novel C-PGA has great potential for new bone formation in the alveolar socket following tooth extraction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alveolar Process / diagnostic imaging
  • Alveolar Process / pathology
  • Animals
  • Chitosan / analogs & derivatives*
  • Chitosan / pharmacology
  • Chitosan / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Osteogenesis / drug effects*
  • Polyglutamic Acid / analogs & derivatives*
  • Polyglutamic Acid / therapeutic use
  • Radiography
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Tooth Extraction
  • Wound Healing / drug effects

Substances

  • chitosan-poly(gamma-glutamic acid)
  • Polyglutamic Acid
  • Chitosan

Grants and funding

The authors also declare this study was supported in part by a grant from the National Science Council, Taiwan (98-2314-B-002-070-MY2) and no additional or current funding sources for this study. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. No additional external funding received for this study.