Synthetic biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) granules and powder are biocompatible biomaterials with a well-known capacity for osteoconduction, presenting very satisfactory clinical and histological results. It remains unanswered if the putty configuration impacts the biological response to the material. In this study, we aimed to compare the cytocompatibility and biocompatibility of nanostructured BCP in the putty configuration (moldable nanostructured calcium phosphate, MnCaP) on the healing of critical-sized bone defects (8 mm) in rat calvaria. Cytocompatibility was determined through the viability of fibroblast cells (V-79) to the extracts of different concentrations of MnCaP. Forty-five Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups (n = 15)-clot, MnCaP, and commercial biphasic calcium phosphate in granules configurations (Nanosynt®)-and subdivided into three experimental periods (1, 3, and 6 months). Histological, histomorphometric, and microtomographic analyses allowed the evaluation of newly formed bone, residual biomaterial, and connective tissue. The in vitro evaluation showed that MnCaP was cytocompatible. The histomorphometric results showed that the Nanosynt® group granted the highest new-formed bone values at six months (p < 0.05), although the biomaterial volume did not differ between groups. The putty configuration was easier to handle, and both configurations were biocompatible and osteoconductive, presented similar biosorption rates, and preserved the calvaria architecture.
Keywords: biocompatibility; biomaterial; cytocompatibility; microtomography.