Reconstruction of calvarial defect of rabbits using porous calcium silicate bioactive ceramics

• Published in: Biomaterials 2008-06, Vol.29 (17), p.2588-2596
• Main Authors: Xu, Songfeng, Lin, Kaili, Wang, Zhen, Chang, Jiang, Wang, Lin, Lu, Jianxi, Ning, Congqin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Advanced Basic Science; Animals; Biocompatible Materials - chemistry; Bone Regeneration; Bone Resorption; Bone Substitutes - standards; Calcium Compounds - chemistry; Calcium Phosphates - chemistry; Calcium silicate; Ceramics; Compressive Strength; Dentistry; Electron Probe Microanalysis; Implants, Experimental; In vivo; Materials Testing; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Porosity; Porous ceramics; Rabbits; Resorption; Silicates - chemistry; Skull - pathology; Skull - surgery; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
• ISSN: 0142-9612; 1878-5905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2008.03.013

Abstract In this study, the in vivo bone-regenerative capacity and resorption of the porous β-calcium silicate (β-CaSiO3 , β-CS) bioactive ceramics were investigated in a rabbit calvarial defect model, and the results were compared with porous β-tricalcium phosphate (β-Ca3 (PO4 )2 , β-TCP) bioceramics. The porous β-CS and β-TCP ceramics were implanted in rabbit calvarial defects and the specimens were harvested after 4, 8 and 16 weeks, and evaluated by Micro-CT and histomorphometric analysis. The Micro-CT and histomorphometric analysis showed that the resorption of β-CS was much higher than that of β-TCP. The TRAP-positive multinucleated cells were observed on the surface of β-CS, suggesting a cell-mediated process involved in the degradation of β-CS in vivo . The amount of newly formed bone was also measured and more bone formation was observed with β-CS as compared with β-TCP ( p < 0.05). Histological observation demonstrated that newly formed bone tissue grew into the porous β-CS, and a bone-like apatite layer was identified between the bone tissue and β-CS materials. The present studies showed that the porous β-CS ceramics could stimulate bone regeneration and may be used as bioactive and biodegradable materials for hard tissue repair and tissue engineering applications.