In guided bone regeneration (GBR), a barrier membrane is applied to provide a space for bone regeneration to promote cell adhesion, cell proliferation, and bone regeneration by inducing cell migration to the surface of the bone-deficient site. We prepared a non-woven absorbable membrane for GBR comprised of a copolymer of L-lactic acid and glycolic acid (PLLGA) using the dry spinning method. A thin and dense membrane comprising unsintered hydroxyapatite (uHA) and poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) was used for comparison. Osteoblast TMS-12 cells were seeded onto the membranes, and cell adhesion and proliferation rates were examined. Calcification levels were quantified by Alizarin Red S staining after cell culture in calcification induction medium. Osteoblastic gene expression was examined by RT-PCR. Cell adhesion and proliferation rates and calcification on PLLGA membranes were significantly higher than those on uHA/PLLA membranes. PLLGA membranes upregulated osteogenic gene expression compared to on uHA/PLLA membranes. Non-woven PLLGA membranes may be useful in GBR for promoting bone formation and maturation.
Keywords: Dental implant; Guided bone regeneration; L-lactic acid; Osteoblast.