Blood vessel formation after soft-tissue implantation of hyaluronan-based hydrogel supplemented with copper ions.
The possibility of ameliorating bone healing of implanted bone allografts is a field of great interest. Early vascular invasion is a key factor in bone allograft incorporation. It is well known that copper ions (Cu2+) show a proangiogenic action favouring the development of new vessels. In this work a hyaluronan based 50% hydrogel (Hyal-50%) was enriched with (Cu2+) and its proangiogenic activity was evaluated. Fifteen Sprague Dawley female rats were submitted to the subcutaneous implantation of Hyal-50%, freeze-dried bone allografts, Hyal-50%-Cu2+, freeze-dried bone allografts plus Hyal-50% and freeze-dried bone allografts plus Hyal-50%-Cu2+. One month later, histomorphometric analysis evidenced the presence of a fibrous-reactive capsule around all specimens showing significant differences among groups (p<0.0005). The highest thickness of the fibrous capsule was found around the freeze-dried bone implants (p<0.05); as well as the Hyal-50%-Cu2+ plus freeze-dried bone (15.2%, p<0.05) and Hyal 50% plus freeze-dried bone (21.4%, p<0.0005) implants showed a significant higher thickness compared with Hyal 50% and Hyal-50%-Cu2+. Statistical analysis showed a significant (p<0.01) higher vascular density in Hyal- 50%-Cu2+ and Hyal-50%-Cu2+ plus freeze-dried bone group when compared to other groups. The present preliminary results suggest the advantages offered by the combined use of a well-known biocompatible and tissue healing promoting material (Hyal-50%) and a new technique that consists of stimulating tissue vascularization using Cu2+ and that bone allograft incorporation may benefit from this technology.
Giavaresi
G
G
Experimental Surgery Department, Research Institute Codivilla-Putti, Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute, Bologna, Italy.
Torricelli
P
P
Fornasari
P M
PM
Giardino
R
R
Barbucci
R
R
Leone
G
G
D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001861:Bone Regeneration; D018786:Bone Substitutes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000378:metabolism; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate / Q000737:chemistry*; D007477:Ions; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D016348:Osseointegration; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D018786:Bone Substitutes; D007477:Ions; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; D003300:Copper; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid