title: Bone response and mechanical strength of rabbit femoral defects filled with injectable CaP cements containing TGF-beta 1 loaded gelatin microparticles.
abstract: This study focused at the potential of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) loaded gelatin microparticles to enhance the bone response and mechanical strength of rabbit femoral defects filled with injectable calcium phosphate (CaP)/gelatin microparticle composites. Therefore, TGF-beta1 loaded composites and non-loaded controls were injected in circular defects as created in the femoral condyles of rabbits and were left in place for 4, 8 and 12 weeks. The specimens were evaluated mechanically (push-out test), and morphologically (scanning electron microscopy (SEM), histology, and histomorphometry). The results showed a gradual increase in mechanical strength with increasing implantation periods. Histological and histomorphometrical evaluation showed similar results for both composite formulations regarding histological aspect, new bone formation and bone/implant contact. However, TGF-beta1 loading of the composites demonstrated a significant effect on composite degradation after twelve weeks of implantation. The results of this study showed that CaP/gelatin composites show excellent osteogenic properties and a rapid increase in mechanical strength. The addition of TGF-beta1 significantly enhances the bone remodeling process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology and Biomaterials, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Dennis P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Link
authors.forename: Juliette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van den Dolder
authors.forename: Jeroen J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: van den Beucken
authors.forename: Joop G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Wolke
authors.forename: Antonios G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Mikos
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Jansen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001843:Bone Cements; D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005269:Femur / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005780:Gelatin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011817:Rabbits; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D001843:Bone Cements; D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D005780:Gelatin; C020243:calcium phosphate