FGF-4 and titanium implants: a pilot study in rabbit bone.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of a local single injection of amino-terminally truncated recombinant human fibroblast growth factor-4 (rhFGF-4s) on titanium implant incorporation in a rabbit bone.


METHODS
Thirty-six threaded titanium implants were inserted into the femur and tibia of six rabbits. Three weeks prior to implant insertion 10 microg of FGF-4 in an altelocollagen carrier or the carrier alone was injected into the intended implant sites. Biomechanical evaluation by (i) resonance frequency analysis and (ii) peak removal torque measurements was performed after 6 weeks. The implants with surrounding tissue were processed to undecalcified ground sections followed by light-microscopic quantifications of the bone in threaded area and the apical parts of the implants.


RESULTS
A general trend, however not statistically significant, with higher mean values obtained in the above-mentioned tests was found. The FGF-4-treated implants revealed a significantly increased bone area in the apical part of the implants compared to the corresponding control implants.


CONCLUSIONS
A local single injection of rhFGF-4 may stimulate bone formation around titanium implants in bone. However, further research is required to confirm these results, understand the mechanisms of FGF, and establish optimal dose and delivery methods.
Franke Stenport
Victoria
V
Department of Biomaterials/Handicap Research, Institute of Surgical Sciences, Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden. victoria.franke-stenport@hkf.gu.se
Johansson
Carina B
CB
Sawase
Takashi
T
Yamasaki
Yasuharu
Y
Oida
Shinichiro
S
D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D003094:Collagen; D015921:Dental Implants; D004337:Drug Carriers; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; D005269:Femur; D051519:Fibroblast Growth Factor 4; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D016348:Osseointegration; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011817:Rabbits; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013499:Surface Properties; D013977:Tibia; D014025:Titanium; D019415:Torque
D015921:Dental Implants; D004337:Drug Carriers; C496445:FGF4 protein, human; D051519:Fibroblast Growth Factor 4; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C059821:atelocollagen; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D003094:Collagen; D014025:Titanium