A combination graft of low-molecular-weight silk fibroin with Choukroun platelet-rich fibrin for rabbit calvarial defect.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to determine the capabilities of silk fibroin as a biomaterial template for bone formation when mixed with Choukroun platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) in vivo.


METHODS
Ten New Zealand white rabbits were used for this study and bilateral round shaped defects were formed in the parietal bone (diameter 9.0 mm). The silk fibroin was digested by acid and made into powder (molecular weight <1.0 kDa). The right side (experimental group) received the silk fibroin plus platelet-rich fibroin and the left side (control group) did not receive a graft. Animals were killed at 6 weeks and 12 weeks. The specimens were examined by microscopic computerized tomography (micro-CT). Subsequently, they underwent decalcification and were stained for histologic analysis.


RESULTS
There was no significant difference between groups at 6 weeks after operation. In the micro-CT results, however, tissue mineral content in the experimental group at 12 weeks after operation was 132.09 +/- 4.41 and that in the control group was 126.42 +/- 6.62 (P = .011). Tissue mineral density in the experimental group was 2,088.88 +/- 648.34, and that in the control group was 2,029.72 +/- 668.22 (P = .013). The results of the histomorphometric analysis were in accordance with the micro-CT results. The total new bone was 49.86 +/- 7.49% in the control group at 12 weeks after the operation and 59.83 +/- 10.92% in the experimental group (P = .021).


CONCLUSIONS
A combined application of Choukroun PRF with acid-digested silk fibroin showed more rapid bone healing than unfilled control.
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University, Gangneung, Korea.
Eui-Hee
EH
Lee
Jwa-Young
JY
Kim
Hae Yong
HY
Kweon
You-Young
YY
Jo
Soo-Kee
SK
Min
Young-Wook
YW
Park
Je-Yong
JY
Choi
Seong-Gon
SG
Kim
D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000502:physiology*; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects; D001847:Bone Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001861:Bone Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects; D018786:Bone Substitutes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005337:Fibrin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005349:Fibroins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D010294:Parietal Bone / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011208:Powders; D011817:Rabbits; D047011:Silk; D013997:Time Factors; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D018786:Bone Substitutes; D011208:Powders; D047011:Silk; D005337:Fibrin; D005349:Fibroins