Biological evaluation of chitosan nanofiber membrane for guided bone regeneration.
BACKGROUND
Chitosan is known as a biodegradable and non-toxic natural polymer that enhances wound healing and bone formation. The aims of this study are to evaluate the biocompatibility of chitosan nanofiber membranes and to examine the effect of the chitosan nanofiber membranes on bone regeneration in rabbit calvarial defects.


METHODS
In vitro cell proliferation tests using human osteosarcoma cell line MG63 and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to evaluate the expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), collagen, osteocalcin (OCN), and GAPDH were done on chitosan nanofiber membranes. Chitosan nanofiber membranes were implanted in subcutaneous connective tissue and observed for 2, 4, and 6 weeks in rats. Ten-millimeter diameter round cranial defects were made in rabbits and covered by chitosan nanofiber membranes for 4 weeks. Specimens were decalcified and observed by a light microscope.


RESULTS
MG63 cells proliferated for 28 days on the chitosan nanofiber membranes and expressed ALP, collagen, OCN, and GAPDH at 2 weeks. Chitosan nanofiber membranes that were grafted into rat subcutaneous tissue maintained their shape and space for bone regeneration for as long as 6 weeks. No inflammation could be seen on the membrane surface or in the surrounding tissues. In the rabbit calvarial defects, new bone filled the defects and fused to the original old bone in 4 weeks.


CONCLUSIONS
The biocompatibility of the chitosan nanofiber membrane was confirmed, with enhanced bone regeneration and no evidence of an inflammatory reaction. This experiment shows that the novel biodegradable chitosan nanofiber membrane may be useful as a tool for guided bone regeneration.
Shin
Seung-Yun
SY
Department of Periodontology, College of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
Park
Ho-Nam
HN
Kim
Kyoung-Hwa
KH
Lee
Myung-Hee
MH
Choi
Young Suk
YS
Park
Yoon-Jeong
YJ
Lee
Yong-Moo
YM
Ku
Young
Y
Rhyu
In-Chul
IC
Han
Soo-Boo
SB
Lee
Seung-Jin
SJ
Chung
Chong-Pyoung
CP
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000633:toxicity; D001861:Bone Regeneration; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D048271:Chitosan / Q000633:toxicity; D016557:Guided Tissue Regeneration, Periodontal / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D049329:Nanostructures; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D048271:Chitosan