A bioactive nano-calcium phosphate paste for in-situ transfection of BMP-7 and VEGF-A in a rabbit critical-size bone defect: results of an in vivo study

J Mater Sci Mater Med. 2019 Jan 22;30(2):15. doi: 10.1007/s10856-019-6217-y.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to prepare an injectable DNA-loaded nano-calcium phosphate paste that is suitable as bioactive bone substitution material. For this we used the well-known potential of calcium phosphate in bone contact and supplemented it with DNA for the in-situ transfection of BMP-7 and VEGF-A in a critical-size bone defect. 24 New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into two groups: One group with BMP-7- and VEGF-A-encoding DNA on calcium phosphate nanoparticles and a control group with calcium phosphate nanoparticles only. The bone defect was created at the proximal medial tibia and filled with the DNA-loaded calcium phosphate paste. As control, a bone defect was filled with the calcium phosphate paste without DNA. The proximal tibia was investigated 2, 4 and 12 weeks after the operation. A histomorphological analysis of the dynamic bone parameters was carried out with the Osteomeasure system. The animals treated with the DNA-loaded calcium phosphate showed a statistically significantly increased bone volume per total volume after 4 weeks in comparison to the control group. Additionally, a statistically significant increase of the trabecular number and the number of osteoblasts per tissue area were observed. These results were confirmed by radiological analysis. The DNA-loaded bone paste led to a significantly faster healing of the critical-size bone defect in the rabbit model after 4 weeks. After 12 weeks, all defects had equally healed in both groups. No difference in the quality of the new bone was found. The injectable DNA-loaded calcium phosphate paste led to a faster and more sustained bone healing and induced an accelerated bone formation after 4 weeks. The material was well integrated into the bone defect and new bone was formed on its surface. The calcium phosphate paste without DNA led to a regular healing of the critical-size bone defect, but the healing was slower than the DNA-loaded paste. Thus, the in-situ transfection with BMP-7 and VEGF-A significantly improved the potential of calcium phosphate as pasty bone substitution material.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biocompatible Materials / chemistry*
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7 / chemistry*
  • Bone Regeneration*
  • Bone Substitutes
  • Calcium Phosphates / chemistry*
  • DNA / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Osteoclasts / cytology
  • Rabbits
  • Tibia / pathology
  • Tissue Scaffolds
  • Transfection
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / chemistry*
  • Wound Healing

Substances

  • BMP7 protein, human
  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7
  • Bone Substitutes
  • Calcium Phosphates
  • VEGFA protein, human
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • DNA
  • calcium phosphate