title: Biological response to β-tricalcium phosphate/calcium sulfate synthetic graft material: an experimental study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a biphasic synthetic bone graft material composed of β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) and calcium sulfate (CS) in 12 New Zealand rabbits.
  
  
  METHODS
  A circular bicortical critical-size cranial defect was created in each of 12 rabbits. The defects were grafted with β-TCP/CS. Animals were euthanized at 3 and 6 weeks. Harvested tissue specimens were evaluated histologically and histomorphometrically. Parameters associated with new bone formation and graft resorption were measured and calculated. The results were statistically analyzed using the Mann-Whitney test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our data demonstrated the biocompatibility of synthetic β-TCP/CS, as no inflammatory response was observed, and no fibrosis was developed between the graft particles and the newly formed bone. Moreover, β-TCP/CS acted as an osteoconductive scaffold that allowed a significant bone regeneration and graft biodegradation with time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this animal model, synthetic β-TCP/CS proved to be a biocompatible, osteoconductive, and bioresorbable bone graft substitute.
authors.affiliation: *Clinical Assistant, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Dental School, University of Athens, Greece. †Visiting Professor, Department of Periodontology and Implant Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Detroit Mercy, Detroit, MI. ‡Professor of Experimental Surgical Research, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, Greece. §Maxillofacial Surgeon, Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Greek Anticancer Institute, St Savvas Hospital, Athens, Greece. ‖Professor, Department of Oral Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy. ¶Pathologist, Laboratory for Research of the Musculoskeletal System "Th. Garofalidis", Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece. #Associate Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Dental School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Minas D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Leventis
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fairbairn
authors.forename: Ismene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dontas
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Faratzis
authors.forename: Konstantinos D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Valavanis
authors.forename: Lubna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Khaldi
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kostakis
authors.forename: Efstathios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Eleftheriadis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001861:Bone Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects; D018786:Bone Substitutes; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D002133:Calcium Sulfate; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D012886:Skull / Q000601:surgery; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
chemical_list: D018786:Bone Substitutes; D002130:Calcium Phosphates; C485817:beta-tricalcium phosphate; D002133:Calcium Sulfate