Citric acid-based hydroxyapatite composite scaffolds enhance calvarial regeneration

Sci Rep. 2014 Nov 5:4:6912. doi: 10.1038/srep06912.

Abstract

Citric acid-based polymer/hydroxyapatite composites (CABP-HAs) are a novel class of biomimetic composites that have recently attracted significant attention in tissue engineering. The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of using two different CABP-HAs, poly (1,8-octanediol citrate)-click-HA (POC-Click-HA) and crosslinked urethane-doped polyester-HA (CUPE-HA) as an alternative to autologous tissue grafts in the repair of skeletal defects. CABP-HA disc-shaped scaffolds (65 wt.-% HA with 70% porosity) were used as bare implants without the addition of growth factors or cells to renovate 4 mm diameter rat calvarial defects (n = 72, n = 18 per group). Defects were either left empty (negative control group), or treated with CUPE-HA scaffolds, POC-Click-HA scaffolds, or autologous bone grafts (AB group). Radiological and histological data showed a significant enhancement of osteogenesis in defects treated with CUPE-HA scaffolds when compared to POC-Click-HA scaffolds. Both, POC-Click-HA and CUPE-HA scaffolds, resulted in enhanced bone mineral density, trabecular thickness, and angiogenesis when compared to the control groups at 1, 3, and 6 months post-trauma. These results show the potential of CABP-HA bare implants as biocompatible, osteogenic, and off-shelf-available options in the repair of orthopedic defects.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Bone Density
  • Bone Regeneration / physiology*
  • Bone Transplantation
  • Citrates / chemistry*
  • Citric Acid / chemistry*
  • Durapatite / chemistry*
  • Male
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic
  • Polyesters / chemistry*
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • Porosity
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Skull / blood supply
  • Skull / injuries
  • Skull / surgery*
  • Tissue Engineering
  • Tissue Scaffolds
  • Transplantation, Autologous
  • Urethane / chemistry

Substances

  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Citrates
  • Polyesters
  • Polymers
  • poly(1,8-octanediol citrate)
  • Citric Acid
  • Urethane
  • Durapatite