title: In vivo tissue engineered bone versus autologous bone: stability and structure.
abstract: This pilot study investigated the biomechanical properties of prefabricated, vascularized bioartificial bone grafts, which may provide an alternative bone source for the restoration of segmental osseous defects. Vascularized bioartificial bone grafts comprise an artificial customized scaffold made of beta-tricalcium phosphate. Bone formation along the prefabricated scaffold is induced by autogenous cancellous bone. Vascularization of the bone graft is provided by the host's vascular system. Within 6 months, a mammalian bioreactor (sheep were used in the present study) creates heterotopic vascularized bioartificial bone grafts of a predetermined anatomical shape, which can be harvested for reconstructing osseous defects. The bioartificial bone grafts in this study contained up to 25% bone tissue, as shown by histomorphometric analysis and computed tomography. Moreover, unconfined compression tests revealed that the constructs had mechanical characteristics similar to those of ovine cancellous bone. Therefore, this method could be applied to generate vascularized prefabricated bone substitutes for critical-size defects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany. Electronic address: zimmerer.ruediger@mh-hannover.de.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Zimmerer
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jehn
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kokemüller
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Biomechanics and Biomaterials, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Abedian
authors.affiliation: Small Animal Clinic, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lalk
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tavassol
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: N-C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Gellrich
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Spalthoff
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D019149:Bioreactors; D018786:Bone Substitutes / Q000737:chemistry*; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000737:chemistry; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D007085:Ilium / Q000098:blood supply; D008422:Materials Testing; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012756:Sheep; D013499:Surface Properties; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D018786:Bone Substitutes; D002130:Calcium Phosphates; C485817:beta-tricalcium phosphate
keywords: Young's modulus; axial vascularization; bioartificial bone; biomechanical tests; bone engineering; custom-made transplants; elastic modulus; flap prefabrication; heterotopic bone growth; maxillofacial reconstruction; micro-CT; vascularized bone transplants