Abstract
A major challenge with extensive craniomaxillofacial bone reconstruction is the limited donor-site availability to reconstruct defects predictably and accurately according to the anatomical shape of the patient. Here, patient-specific composite bioimplants, consisting of cross-linked poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC) networks and beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP), are tested in vivo in twelve Gottingen minipigs in a large mandibular continuity defect model. The 25 mm defects are supported by patient-specific titanium reconstruction plates and receive either osteoconductive composite bioimplants (PTMC+TCP), neat polymer network bioimplants (PTMC), autologous bone segments (positive control), or are left empty (negative control). Postoperatively, defects treated with bioimplants show evident ossification at 24 weeks. Histopathologic evaluation reveals that neat PTMC bioimplant surfaces are largely covered with fibrous tissue, while in the PTMC+TCP bioimplants, bone attached directly to the implant surface shows good osteoconduction and histological signs of osteoinductivity. However, PTMC+TCP bioimplants are associated with high incidence of necrosis and infection, possibly due to rapid resorption and/or particle size of the used beta-TCP. The study highlights the importance of testing bone regeneration implants in a clinically relevant large animal model and at the in situ reconstruction site, since results on small animal models and studies in nonloadbearing areas do not translate directly.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 2100398 |
Journal | Macromolecular Bioscience |
Volume | 22 |
Issue number | 4 |
Number of pages | 15 |
ISSN | 1616-5187 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Apr 2022 |
MoE publication type | A1 Journal article-refereed |
Fields of Science
- additive manufacturing
- bone reconstructions
- calcium phosphates
- continuity defects
- Gottingen minipigs
- poly(trimethylene carbonate)
- BETA-TRICALCIUM PHOSPHATE
- POROUS TITANIUM MATERIALS
- ENTANGLED WIRE STRUCTURE
- CRITICAL SIZE DEFECTS
- BONE REGENERATION
- SCAFFOLDS
- BIOMATERIALS
- MINIPIGS
- QUALITY
- 1182 Biochemistry, cell and molecular biology
- 216 Materials engineering