Evaluation of pluronic polyols as carriers for grafting materials: study in rat calvaria defects.
BACKGROUND
Pluronic polyols are a family of non-ionic surfactants currently used as drug carriers for antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-neoplastic agents. Therapeutic administration of non-ionic surface-active agents is known to facilitate early collagen synthesis and microcirculation, thus promoting wound healing. The purpose of this study was to determine the in vivo effects of pluronic polyols combined with either an allograft or an alloplast on the healing of critical-sized calvarial defects.


METHODS
One hundred fifty (150) adult (95 to 105 days old) male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing between 375 and 425 g were randomly and evenly assigned to each of 15 separate treatment groups and anesthetized, and 8 mm calvarial critical-sized defects were created. Pluronic F-68 (F-68) or pluronic F-127 (F-127) was administered either topically or systemically and in conjuction with demineralized bone powder (DBP), tricalcium phosphate (TCP), or non-grafted controls. Pluronic polyols are easily mixed with either DBP or TCP to improve handling ease. Calvaria were harvested at 12 weeks postsurgery and evaluated histomorphometrically, by contact radiography with subsequent densitometric analysis, through energy spectrometry utilizing a scanning electron microscope, and by fluorescent microscopy.


RESULTS
There was a significant difference in the percentage of bone fill among the control, TCP, and DBP only groups, P <0.05. The only significant difference within any of these groups was between the TCP control and TCP plus systemic F-127, P<0.05.


CONCLUSIONS
Although there were isolated differences, the overall trend was that the pluronic polyol and the mode of administration did not result in a significant change in bone wound healing as measured by the percentage of bone fill. Pluronic polyols may be considered as carriers for osseous graft materials.
Fowler
Edward B
EB
Periodontics, US Army Dental Activity, Fort Lewis, WA, USA.
Cuenin
Michael F
MF
Hokett
Steven D
SD
Peacock
Mark E
ME
McPherson
James C
JC
Dirksen
Thomas R
TR
Sharawy
Mohamed
M
Billman
Michael A
MA
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001847:Bone Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D018786:Bone Substitutes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004577:Electron Probe Microanalysis; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D010012:Osteogenesis; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis; D020442:Poloxamer / Q000737:chemistry; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012886:Skull / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry
D018786:Bone Substitutes; D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; C485817:beta-tricalcium phosphate; D020442:Poloxamer; D010758:Phosphorus; C018392:tricalcium phosphate; D002118:Calcium