A novel in vivo platform for studying alveolar bone regeneration in rat

Abstract

Alveolar bone regeneration is a significant challenge in dental implantation. Novel biomaterials and tissue-engineered constructs are under extensive development and awaiting in vivo animal tests to find clinical endpoint. Here, we establish a novel in vivo model, modifying gingivoperiosteoplasty in rat for the alveolar bone regeneration. Rat premaxillary bone defects were filled with silk scaffold or remained empty during the implantation period (up to 6 weeks), and harvested samples were analyzed by micro-computed tomography and histopathology. Empty defects showed increased but limited new bone formation with increasing implantation period. In defects implanted with silk sponge, the bone formation was significantly greater than that of empty defect, indicating an effective role of silk scaffold in the defect model. The modified premaxillary defect model in rat is simple to perform, while mimicking the clinical conditions, finding usefulness for the development of biomaterials and tissue-engineered constructs targeting alveolar bone regeneration in dental implantation.

Silk fibroin as biomaterial for bone tissue engineering

“…However, when implanted in the mandibular defects of canine, polyaspartic acid/SF scaffolds formed nominal traces of bone deposition along the defect periphery, while substantial bone formation could only be achieved with the addition of pre-seeded autologous BMSCs [153]. Cell-free A. mylitta derived 3D SF sponges implanted in premaxillary defects of rat model demonstrated considerably higher bone volume over empty control defects (64.89 ± 7.46 mm 2 vs. 27.28% ± 9.2% mm 2 ) after 6 weeks of implantation [164]. In agreement with the above argument, a recently conducted study compared the repair of critical size rat calvarial defect with A. mylitta and B. mori lyophilized scaffolds ( Figure 5) [165].…”

A rabbit model for experimental alveolar cleft grafting

“…This is mostly because of the limited anatomical size in these models which lead to difficulties in handling intraoral surgical procedures. This results in a compromise in designing and establishing proper sizable defects mimicking three-dimensional triangular defect extending to the nasal mucosa and the adjacent tooth as seen in human patients [ 12 , 18 , 39 ].…”

Bone regeneration using composite non-demineralized xenogenic dentin with beta-tricalcium phosphate in experimental alveolar cleft repair in a rabbit model

“…This study demonstrated the feasibility of establishing a reliable skeletal defect in rabbits prior to the later grafting of the defect in a two stage surgery to study alveolar cleft repair healing pattern using various novel biomaterials in three-dimensional form similar in morphology to human patients [ 50 ]. Many previous studies in the literature have only filled a created a bone defect in a one stage surgery [ 45 , 47 , 53 – 55 ], which is not in accordance with closing a cleft clinically where oral and nasal epithelium is lining the defect.…”