Affiliations: [a] Dental Biomaterials Science Program, Graduate School, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand | [b] Department of Materials Science, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand | [c] Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand | [d] Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand | [e] Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand | [f] Research Unit of Herbal Medicine, Biomaterial and Material for Dental Treatment, Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Dentistry, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Pasutha Thunyakitpisal, Department of Anatomy, Research Unit of Herbal Medicine, Biomaterial and Material for Dental Treatment, Faculty of Dentistry, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. Tel.: +6681-713-3311; E-mail: pthunyak@yahoo.com.
Abstract: Background:The data on biomaterial-mediated bone regeneration directly comparing commercially available scaffolds in aging and osteoporotic conditions remain sparse. Objective:To investigate the effects of an absorbable collagen sponge (ACS) and a medical grade polycaprolactone-tricalcium phosphate (mPCL-TCP) scaffold on calvarial defect healing in ovary-intact and ovariectomized rats. Methods:Forty-two, 5-month old female Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into sham (OVI) or ovariectomy (OVX) groups (n=21). When rats reached 6 months old, 7 mm diameter calvarial defects were created and treated, further dividing each group into blood clot control, mPCL-TCP, or ACS subgroups (n=7). After four weeks, the calvarial specimens were evaluated using micro-computed tomography for bone volume fraction (BVF), and histopathology. Results:The effects of ovariectomy were confirmed by changes in body, uterine, and vaginal weight, and osteopenia in the femur. A significant increase in BVF was observed in ACS-subgroups compared with their respective control groups (p<0.05). Histopathological analysis revealed no cellular inflammatory infiltrate in any group. Fibrous tissue encapsulated the mPCL-TCP, while the ACS was well-integrated with the bone matrix. The OVX groups presented more osteoid and enlarged marrow cavities compared with the OVI groups. Conclusion:ACS scaffold enhanced calvarial bone regeneration in OVI and OVX rats after four weeks.
Keywords: Polycaprolactone, collagen, bone regeneration, ovariectomy, microcomputed tomography
