Poly(L-Lactide)/Poly(ε-Caprolactone) and Collagen/β-Tricalcium Phosphate Scaffolds for the Treatment of Critical-Sized Rat Alveolar Defects: A Microtomographic, Molecular-Biological, and Histological Study.
To determine the efficacy of a newly developed scaffold (col/β-TCP) in a preclinical rat model as compared with the gold standard treatment (autograft) and control scaffolds (PLLA/PCL).



Fifty-six Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into four experimental groups, and critical-sized alveolar defects (7 × 4 × 3 mm) were created in each animal. Group A was the blank defect group, group B received autograft, group C received col/β-TCP scaffolds, and group D received PLLA/PCL blend scaffolds to fill the bone defects. New bone formation was assessed radiomorphometrically, histomorphometrically, and molecular-biologically at 1 and 4 months following surgery.



Radiomorphometrically, the best new bone volume rate at 1 month (43.7%) and 4 months (45.4%) was observed in the autograft group, and the difference was significantly higher than in the other three groups (P < .005, P < .001, P < .001 for 1 month and P = .004, P < .001, P < .001 for 4 months). Even though the new bone volume rate in the col/β-TCP group (21.5%) was higher than that of the PLLA/PCL group (18.2%), the difference was not significant (P = .08). Molecular-genetic analysis revealed significantly higher BSP and ALP gene expression levels in the autograft and col/β-TCP groups than in the blank defect group (P = .002 and P = .004).



The engineered tissue scaffolds described herein have great potential as an alternative treatment option when cost, donor region morbidity, and duration of hospitalization are considered.
Omer
O
Ekin
Mert
M
Calis
Ali
A
Aliyev
Atiye Seda
AS
Yar
Petek
P
Korkusuz
Elif
E
Bilgic
Halil Murat
HM
Aydin
Hakan Hamdi
HH
Celik
Figen
F
Ozgur
Ibrahim
I
Vargel
D000818:Animals; D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000737:chemistry*; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry*; D010012:Osteogenesis; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D011091:Polyesters; C485817:beta-tricalcium phosphate; C016240:polycaprolactone; C033616:poly(lactide); D003094:Collagen
autograft; bone tissue engineering; critical-sized alveolar bone defect; poly(L-lactide)/poly(ε-caprolactone) and collagen/β-tricalcium phosphate scaffolds