High tibial osteotomy using polycaprolactone-tricalcium phosphate polymer wedge in a micro pig model

Abstract

Medial open-wedge high tibial osteotomy has been gaining popularity in recent years, but adequate supporting material is required in the osteotomy gap for early weight-bearing and rapid union. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the implantation of a polycaprolactone-tricalcium phosphate composite scaffold wedge would enhance healing of the osteotomy in a micro pig model. We carried out open-wedge high tibial osteotomies in 12 micro pigs aged from 12 to 16 months. A scaffold wedge was inserted into six of the osteotomies while the other six were left open. Bone healing was evaluated after three and six months using plain radiographs, CT scans, measurement of the bone mineral density and histological examination. Complete bone union was obtained at six months in both groups. There was no collapse at the osteotomy site, loss of correction or failure of fixation in either group. Staining with haematoxylin and eosin demonstrated that there was infiltration of new bone tissue into the macropores and along the periphery of the implanted scaffold in the scaffold group. The CT scans and measurement of the bone mineral density showed that at six months specimens in the scaffold group had a higher bone mineral density than in the control group, although the implantation of the polycaprolactone-tricalcium phosphate composite scaffold wedge did not enhance healing of the osteotomy.

Brain Tissue Interaction with Three-Dimensional, Honeycomb Polycaprolactone-Based Scaffolds Designed for Cranial Reconstruction Following Traumatic Brain Injury

“…Nonetheless, PCL-TCP scaffolds have been investigated for bone TE applications with reasonable success. 14,24,25 Inflammatory responses at the edges of the scaffold could still be determined with IBA-1-expressing microglial, and GFAP-expressing hypertrophic astrocytes. IBA-1 results indicated that PCL-TCP scaffolds activated fewer microglial cells initially (Fig.…”

“…24 To fit the defects created in the rat cranium, the scaffolds were designed in a plug-like manner, as depicted in (Fig. 1, inset).…”

New application of three‐dimensional printing biomaterial in nasal reconstruction

“…Coupled with relatively inexpensive production routes and U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval, this polymer provides a promising platform for the production of implants that may be manipulated physically, chemically, and biologically to possess tailorable degradation kinetics to suit a specific anatomical site . Several trials have demonstrated PCL‐based implants to have adequate structural integrity to withstand biomechanical loads over time . Schantz et al reported the histological evidence of neobone formation with partial integration into the surrounding host tissue in a critical‐sized rabbit calvarial defect using PCL implants seeded with autologous mesenchymal progenitor cells and osteoblasts .…”

Preclinical induced membrane model to evaluate synthetic implants for healing critical bone defects without autograft

“…Synthetic bone void fillers, which present an alternative to autograft and allograft, have the advantages of greater reproducibility and ease of customization without the need for graft harvesting or the risks of disease transmission. The most common synthetic bone void fillers are β‐tricalcium phosphate (β‐TCP), hydroxyapatite, or combinations of the two . These ceramics show excellent biocompatibility and osteoconductivity, enabling their use as scaffolds for bone regeneration.…”

“…Scaffolds made from composites of PCL/β‐TCP have been studied for application in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, and have been shown to support cell proliferation in vitro and improve bone tissue regeneration across defects in vivo . Both PCL and β‐TCP have been approved for clinical application in patients by the FDA and demonstrate low toxicity and inflammatory responses . However, implants constructed from these materials lack the growth factors and living cells that enable autologous grafts to actively contribute to the native bone healing response.…”