No abstract

This study investigated the in vivo degradation of poly(propylene fumarate) (PPF)/poly(DL-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) composite scaffolds designed for controlled release of osteogenic factors. PPF/PLGA composites were implanted into 15.0mm segmental defects in the rabbit radius, harvested after 12 and 18 weeks, and analyzed using histological techniques to assess the extent of polymer degradation as well as the tissue response within the pores of the scaffolds. Polymer degradation was limited to micro-fragmentation of the scaffold at the ends and edges of the implant at both 12 and 18 weeks. The tissue within the pores of the scaffold consisted of fibrous tissue, blood vessels and some inflammatory cells. In areas where polymer breakdown was evident, an increased inflammatory response was observed. In contrast, areas of bone ingrowth into the polymer scaffold were characterized by minimal inflammatory response and polymer degradation. Our results show that minimal degradation of porous PPF occurs within 18 weeks of implantation in a rabbit model. Further, the in vivo degradation data of porous PPF/PLGA scaffolds are comparable with earlier obtained in vitro data.

No abstract

This study was designed to assess the influence of varied release kinetics of the osteogenic thrombin peptide TP508 from osteoconductive poly(propylene fumarate)-based (PPF) composite scaffolds on bone formation in vivo. Four classes of scaffolds were constructed with different TP508 dosages (200, 100, or 0 microg) and release kinetics (large burst release, minimal burst release, or no release) and implanted in 15.0 mm segmental defects in rabbit radii. The animals were euthanized at 12 weeks and the implants were analyzed by light microscopy, histological scoring analysis, and histomorphometric analysis. Samples from all classes displayed bone growth within the pores of the scaffold near the edges of the defect. In areas where bone was not observed, the pores were filled with mostly fibrous tissue and exhibited minimal inflammatory response for all classes. In contrast to other scaffold classes, scaffolds containing a total dose of 200 microg TP508 and exhibiting a large burst release profile showed statistically more bone formation guided along the surface of the scaffold, with these scaffolds averaging 80% of the defect length bridged with bone compared to 10% or less bridged for the other scaffold classes. These results demonstrate that the extent of in vivo bone formation in response to controlled release from PPF-composite scaffolds is determined by the release kinetics of the incorporated osteogenic peptide.

This study focused on the assessment of radiography, microcomputed tomography, and histology for the evaluation of bone formation in a 15.0-mm defect in the rabbit radius after the implantation of a tissue-engineered construct. Radiography was found to be useful as a noninvasive method for obtaining images of calcified tissue throughout the time course of the experiment. With this method, however, image quality was low, making it difficult to obtain precise information about the location and quantity of the bone formed. Microcomputed tomography was used to create three-dimensional reconstructions of the bone (25-microm resolution). These reconstructions allowed for greater spatial resolution than the radiography, but did not allow for imaging of the implanted scaffold material or the surrounding, nonmineralized tissue. To visualize all materials within the defect area at the cellular level, histology was used. Histological analysis, however, is a destructive technique that did not allow for any further analysis of the samples. Each technique examined here has its own advantages and limitations, but each yields unique information regarding bone regeneration. It is only through the use of all three techniques that complete characterization of the bone growth and tissue/construct responses after implantation in vivo.