title: In vivo performance of novel soybean/gelatin-based bioactive and injectable hydroxyapatite foams.
abstract: Major limitations of calcium phosphate cements (CPCs) are their relatively slow degradation rate and the lack of macropores allowing the ingrowth of bone tissue. The development of self-setting cement foams has been proposed as a suitable strategy to overcome these limitations. In previous work we developed a gelatine-based hydroxyapatite foam (G-foam), which exhibited good injectability and cohesion, interconnected porosity and good biocompatibility in vitro. In the present study we evaluated the in vivo performance of the G-foam. Furthermore, we investigated whether enrichment of the foam with soybean extract (SG-foam) increased its bioactivity. G-foam, SG-foam and non-foamed CPC were implanted in a critical-size bone defect in the distal femoral condyle of New Zealand white rabbits. Bone formation and degradation of the materials were investigated after 4, 12 and 20weeks using histological and biomechanical methods. The foams maintained their macroporosity after injection and setting in vivo. Compared to non-foamed CPC, cellular degradation of the foams was considerably increased and accompanied by new bone formation. The additional functionalization with soybean extract in the SG-foam slightly reduced the degradation rate and positively influenced bone formation in the defect. Furthermore, both foams exhibited excellent biocompatibility, implying that these novel materials may be promising for clinical application in non-loaded bone defects.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Orthopaedic Research and Biomechanics, University of Ulm, Helmholtzstrasse 14, D-89081 Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kovtun
authors.affiliation: Institute of Orthopaedic Research and Biomechanics, University of Ulm, Helmholtzstrasse 14, D-89081 Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Melanie J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Goeckelmann
authors.affiliation: Military Hospital Ulm, Oberer Eselsberg 40, D-89081 Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Antje A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Niclas
authors.affiliation: Biomaterials, Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering Group, Department of Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering, Technical University of Catalonia, Av. Diagonal 647, E08028 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Edgar B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Montufar
authors.affiliation: Biomaterials, Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering Group, Department of Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering, Technical University of Catalonia, Av. Diagonal 647, E08028 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Maria-Pau
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Ginebra
authors.affiliation: Biomaterials, Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering Group, Department of Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering, Technical University of Catalonia, Av. Diagonal 647, E08028 Barcelona, Spain; Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Baldiri Reixac 15-21, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Josep A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Planell
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Brighton, Cockcroft Building, Lewes Road, Brighton BN2 4GJ, UK.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santin
authors.affiliation: Institute of Orthopaedic Research and Biomechanics, University of Ulm, Helmholtzstrasse 14, D-89081 Ulm, Germany. Electronic address: anita.ignatius@uni-ulm.de.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ignatius
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D017886:Durapatite / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D005780:Gelatin / Q000737:chemistry*; D011817:Rabbits; D013025:Glycine max / Q000737:chemistry*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D005780:Gelatin; D017886:Durapatite
keywords: Bone regeneration; Calcium phosphate cement; Gelatine; Rabbit model; Soybean