title: A modified rabbit ulna defect model for evaluating periosteal substitutes in bone engineering: a pilot study.
abstract: The present work defines a modified critical size rabbit ulna defect model for bone regeneration in which a non-resorbable barrier membrane was used to separate the radius from the ulna to create a valid model for evaluation of tissue-engineered periosteal substitutes. Eight rabbits divided into two groups were used. Critical defects (15 mm) were made in the ulna completely eliminating periosteum. For group I, defects were filled with a nanohydroxyapatite poly(ester urethane) scaffold soaked in PBS and left as such (group Ia) or wrapped with a tissue-engineered periosteal substitute (group Ib). For group II, an expanded-polytetrafluoroethylene (e-PTFE) (GORE-TEX(®)) membrane was inserted around the radius then the defects received either scaffold alone (group IIa) or scaffold wrapped with periosteal substitute (group IIb). Animals were euthanized after 12-16 weeks, and bone regeneration was evaluated by radiography, computed microtomography (μCT), and histology. In the first group, we observed formation of radio-ulnar synostosis irrespective of the treatment. This was completely eliminated upon placement of the e-PTFE (GORE-TEX(®)) membrane in the second group of animals. In conclusion, modification of the model using a non-resorbable e-PTFE membrane to isolate the ulna from the radius was a valuable addition allowing for objective evaluation of the tissue-engineered periosteal substitute.
authors.affiliation: DIMES, University of Genova , Genova , Italy ; IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro , Genova , Italy ; Faculty of Dentistry, Alexandria University , Alexandria , Egypt.
authors.forename: Rania M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: El Backly
authors.affiliation: IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro , Genova , Italy.
authors.forename: Danilo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chiapale
authors.affiliation: Biorigen S.R.L. , Genova , Italy.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Muraglia
authors.affiliation: Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.P.A. , Trieste , Italy.
authors.forename: Giuliana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tromba
authors.affiliation: Biorigen S.R.L. , Genova , Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ottonello
authors.affiliation: IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro , Genova , Italy.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Santolini
authors.affiliation: DIMES, University of Genova , Genova , Italy ; IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro , Genova , Italy.
authors.forename: Ranieri
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cancedda
authors.affiliation: DIMES, University of Genova , Genova , Italy ; IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro , Genova , Italy.
authors.forename: Maddalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mastrogiacomo
keywords: bone regeneration; critical size defect; e-PTFE; periosteal substitute; platelet-rich plasma