Sustained release of ancillary amounts of testosterone and alendronate from PLGA coated pericard membranes and implants to improve bone healing.

Testosterone and alendronate have been identified as two bone healing compounds which, when combined, synergistically stimulate bone regeneration. This study describes the development of a novel ultrasonic spray coating for sustained release of ancillary amounts of testosterone and alendronate encapsulated in PLGA 5004A as a carrier. Due to the low amounts of testosterone and alendronate used, sensitive in vitro assays were developed to determine in vitro release.

Osteogenic properties of starch poly(ε-caprolactone) (SPCL) fiber meshes loaded with osteoblast-like cells in a rat critical-sized cranial defect.

Osteoblast-like cells together with a suitable scaffold can aid to the regeneration of bone defects. A suitable scaffold could be starch poly(ε-caprolactone) (SPCL) fiber meshes, which have shown a high potential to support bone formation in previous in vitro and in noncritical sized in vivo studies. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of these scaffolds alone or combined with osteoblast-like cells in the regeneration of a critical-sized cranial defect in male Fisher rats.

Evaluation of an orthotopically implanted calcium phosphate cement containing gelatin microparticles.

This study focused on the degradation properties of gelatin microparticles incorporated in calcium phosphate (CaP) cement and the subsequent effect of these composites on bone formation. Positively charged alkaline gelatin (type A) microparticles or negatively charged acidic gelatin (type B) microparticles were incorporated in CaP cement, which was implanted in critical-sized cranial defect in rats and left in place for 2, 4, and 8 weeks. The degradation of the gelatin was monitored using radioiodinated microparticles.

Evaluation of the biocompatibility of calcium phosphate cement/PLGA microparticle composites.

In this study, the biocompatibility of a calcium phosphate (CaP) cement incorporating poly (D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microparticles was evaluated in a subcutaneous implantation model in rats. Short-term biocompatibility was assessed using pure CaP discs and CaP discs incorporating PLGA microparticles (20% w/w) with and without preincubation in water. Long-term biocompatibility was assessed using CaP discs incorporating varying amounts (5, 10, or 20% w/w) and diameter sizes (small, 0-50 mum; medium, 51-100 mum, or large, 101-200 mum) of PLGA microparticles.

Bone response and mechanical strength of rabbit femoral defects filled with injectable CaP cements containing TGF-beta 1 loaded gelatin microparticles.

This study focused at the potential of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) loaded gelatin microparticles to enhance the bone response and mechanical strength of rabbit femoral defects filled with injectable calcium phosphate (CaP)/gelatin microparticle composites. Therefore, TGF-beta1 loaded composites and non-loaded controls were injected in circular defects as created in the femoral condyles of rabbits and were left in place for 4, 8 and 12 weeks. The specimens were evaluated mechanically (push-out test), and morphologically (scanning electron microscopy (SEM), histology, and histomorphometry).

The cytocompatibility and early osteogenic characteristics of an injectable calcium phosphate cement.

In this study, the cytocompatibility and early osteogenic characteristics of rat bone marrow cells (RBMCs) on injectable calcium phosphate (CaP) cement (Calcibon) were investigated. In addition to unmodified CaP cement discs, 2 other treatments were given to the discs: preincubation in MilliQ and sintering at different temperatures. After primary culture, RBMCs were dropwise seeded on the discs and cultured for 12 days.

Mechanical evaluation of implanted calcium phosphate cement incorporated with PLGA microparticles.

In this study, the mechanical properties of an implanted calcium phosphate (CaP) cement incorporated with 20wt% poly (dl-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microparticles were investigated in a rat cranial defect. After 2, 4 and 8 weeks of implantation, implants were evaluated mechanically (push-out test) and morphologically (Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and histology). The results of the push-out test showed that after 2 weeks the shear strength of the implants was 0.