Local injection of nerve growth factor via a hydrogel enhances bone formation during mandibular distraction osteogenesis.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the injectable NGF-carrying collagen/nano-hydroxyapatite/alginate hydrogel on the bone formation in a rabbit mandibular distraction osteogenesis model.


METHODS
Thirty-five New Zealand white rabbits underwent bilateral madibular distraction osteogenesis at a rate of 0.75 mm/12 h for 6 days. The rabbits were divided into 4 groups: group 1 received injections of collagen/nano-hydroxyapatite/alginate hydrogel containing hNGFβ; groups 2, 3, and 4 received injections of hNGFβ, Col/nHA/Alg hydrogel, and saline, respectively. The injections were performed on both sides of the mandible at the end of the lengthening phase. All the animals were killed at a consolidation time of 14 days.


RESULTS
No difference in regenerate bone dimensions was observed among the 4 groups. Bone mineral density, the maximum load, and the bone volume/total volume of the new bone in the distraction gap in group 1 was significantly greater (P < .05) than in the other 3 groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Application of the Col/nHA/Alg hydrogel as an NGF delivery during the consolidation phase of distraction osteogenesis increased regeneration and new bone formation.
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Fourth Military Medical University, School of Stomatology, Xi'an, China.
Jian
J
Cao
Lei
L
Wang
De-lin
DL
Lei
Yan-Pu
YP
Liu
Zhao-jie
ZJ
Du
Fu-Zhai
FZ
Cui
D000464:Alginates / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D001861:Bone Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D003094:Collagen; D003799:Dental Stress Analysis; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry; D017886:Durapatite; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000601:surgery*; D019186:Mandibular Advancement / Q000379:methods; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D019857:Osteogenesis, Distraction; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
D000464:Alginates; D004337:Drug Carriers; D020100:Hydrogels; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C509317:nano-hydroxyapatite-collagen; D003094:Collagen; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor; D017886:Durapatite