Rabbit calvarial and mandibular critical-sized bone defects as an experimental model for the evaluation of craniofacial bone tissue regeneration

"Osteo-Organogenesis Niche" Hyaluronic Acid Engineered Materials Directing Re-Osteo-Organogenesis via Manipulating Macrophage CD44-MAPK/ERK-ETV1/5-MRC1 Axis

The strategy of re-organogenesis provides an optimal framework for restoring complex organ structures and functions in adult damage. While the focus has often been on restoring organogenesis stem cells, there is limited investigations of reverting the environmental niche to support this approach. The guiding principle of "Nature selects the fittest to survive" drives the intricate dynamic changes in cellular events within the niche environment, especially through immune surveillance. The extracellular matrix (ECM) serves as the "self-associated molecular patterns" of the niche, containing extensive data on cell-niche reaction data and acting as the active tuner of immune surveillance. In this study, hyaluronic acid (HA) is identified as a unique component of the ECM in cranial osteo-organogenesis. Mechanistically, HA activates the Cluster of Differentiation 44 (CD44)-Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK)/Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase (ERK)-Ets Variant 1/5 (ETV1/5)- Mannose Receptor C-Type 1 (MRC1) axis in macrophages, establishing a distinct immune surveillance during osteo-organogenesis. Furthermore, HA is utilized as a novel engineered material for an "Osteo-organogenesis niche", restoring immune surveillance and synergistically regulating stem cells to achieve re-osteo-organogenesis in cranial defects of rats. Taken together, the study unveils a previously unknown strategy for leveraging re-organogenesis by utilizing "organogenesis niche" ECM engineered materials to manipulate immune surveillance, thereby comprehensively regulating stem cells and other tissue cells effectively for re-organogenesis.

Comparing the effects of Bone+B® xenograft and InterOss® xenograft bone material on rabbit calvaria bone defect regeneration

BACKGROUND

The bone regeneration therapy is often used in patients with inadequate bone support for implants, particularly following tooth extractions. Xenografts derived from animal tissues are effective bone reconstructive options that resist resorption and pose a low risk of transmitting disease. Therefore, these implants may be a good option for enhancing and stabilizing maxillary sinuses. The purpose of this study was to compare two xenografts, Bone+B® and InterOss®, for the reconstruction of rabbit calvaria defects.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

The study involved seven male New Zealand white rabbits. In the surgical procedure, 21 spots were created on both sides of the midline calvarium by creating three 8-millimeter defects. A control group was used, as well as two treatment groups utilizing Bone+B® Grafts and InterOss® Grafts. After 3 months, the rabbits were euthanized, followed by pathological evaluation. Analysis of these samples focused on bone formation, xenograft remaining material, and inflammation levels, using Adobe Photoshop CS 8.0 and SPSS version 24.

RESULTS

With the application of Bone+B® graft, bone formation ranged from 32% to 45%, with a mean of 37.80% (±5.63), and the remaining material ranged from 28% to 37%, with a mean of 32.60% (±3.65). Using InterOss® grafts, bone formation was 61% to 75%, the mean was 65.83% (±4.75), and the remaining material was 9% to 18%, with a mean of 13.17% (±3.06). The bone formation in the control group ranged from 10% to 25%, with a mean of 17.17% (±6.11). InterOss® had lower inflammation levels than other groups, but the difference was not statistically significant (p > .05).

CONCLUSION

InterOss® bone powder is the best option for maxillofacial surgery and bone reconstruction. This is due to more bone formation, less remaining material, and a lower inflammation level. Compared to the control group, Bone+B® improves healing and bone quality, thus making it an alternative to InterOss®.

Evaluation of the regenerative capacity of stem cells combined with bone graft material and collagen matrix using a rabbit calvarial defect model

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the regenerative capacity of stem cells combined with bone graft material and a collagen matrix in rabbit calvarial defect models according to the type and form of the scaffolds, which included type I collagen matrix and synthetic bone.

METHODS

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were obtained from the periosteum of participants. Four symmetrical 6-mm-diameter circular defects were made in New Zealand white rabbits using a trephine drill. The defects were grafted with (1) group 1: synthetic bone (β-tricalcium phosphate/hydroxyapatite [β-TCP/HA]) and 1×105 MSCs; (2) group 2: collagen matrix and 1×105 MSCs; (3) group 3: β-TCP/HA, collagen matrix covering β-TCP/HA, and 1×105 MSCs; or (4) group 4: β-TCP/HA, chipped collagen matrix mixed with β-TCP/HA, and 1×105 MSCs. Cellular viability and cell migration rates were analyzed.

RESULTS

Uneventful healing was achieved in all areas where the defects were made at 4 weeks, and no signs of infection were identified during the healing period or at the time of retrieval. New bone formation was more evident in groups 3 and 4 than in the other groups. A densitometric analysis of the calvarium at 8 weeks post-surgery showed the highest values in group 3.

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that the highest regeneration was found when the stem cells were applied to synthetic bone along with a collagen matrix.

The Use of Human Sterilized Crushed Tooth Particles Compared with BTCP Biomaterial and Empty Defects in Bone Formation inside Critical Rabbit Calvaria Sites

This study aimed to assess the bone regeneration of critical-size defects in rabbit calvaria filled with freshly crushed extracted teeth, comparing them with BTCP biomaterial and empty sites. Materials and methods: Twenty-one female New Zealand rabbits were used in this study. Two critical-size defects 6 mm in size were created in the skull bone, each with a 3 mm separation between them. Three experimental groups were evaluated: Group A (human sterilized crushed teeth granules alone), Group B (Bioner Bone, Bioner Sitemas Implantológicos), and Group C (unfilled defects). The animals were sacrificed at 4 and 8 weeks. Evaluation of the samples involved histological and histomorphometric analyses with radiographic evaluation. The histological evaluation showed a higher volume reduction in Group A compared with Group B (p < 0.05) and Control. Group A showed the highest values for cortical closure and bone formation around the particles, followed by Group B and Group C (p < 0.05). Within the limitations of this animal study, we can conclude that the use of human tooth particles leads to increased bone formation and reduced connective tissue in critical-size defects in rabbit calvaria when compared to BTCP biomaterial. The calvarial model is a robust base for the evaluation of different biomaterials.

[Models of bone defects in rabbits used to evaluate the bone graft materials efficacy]

The review deals with the main types of experimental models of bone defects of the skull in rabbits. The information about the types of critical defects, methods of their modeling and the possibilities of application of the described models in the studies of bone graft materials in dentistry and maxillofacial surgery is systematized.

Biomedical applications of three-dimensional bioprinted craniofacial tissue engineering

Anatomical complications of the craniofacial regions often present considerable challenges to the surgical repair or replacement of the damaged tissues. Surgical repair has its own set of limitations, including scarcity of the donor tissues, immune rejection, use of immune suppressors followed by the surgery, and restriction in restoring the natural aesthetic appeal. Rapid advancement in the field of biomaterials, cell biology, and engineering has helped scientists to create cellularized skeletal muscle-like structures. However, the existing method still has limitations in building large, highly vascular tissue with clinical application. With the advance in the three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting technique, scientists and clinicians now can produce the functional implants of skeletal muscles and bones that are more patient-specific with the perfect match to the architecture of their craniofacial defects. Craniofacial tissue regeneration using 3D bioprinting can manage and eliminate the restrictions of the surgical transplant from the donor site. The concept of creating the new functional tissue, exactly mimicking the anatomical and physiological function of the damaged tissue, looks highly attractive. This is crucial to reduce the donor site morbidity and retain the esthetics. 3D bioprinting can integrate all three essential components of tissue engineering, that is, rehabilitation, reconstruction, and regeneration of the lost craniofacial tissues. Such integration essentially helps to develop the patient-specific treatment plans and damage site-driven creation of the functional implants for the craniofacial defects. This article is the bird's eye view on the latest development and application of 3D bioprinting in the regeneration of the skeletal muscle tissues and their application in restoring the functional abilities of the damaged craniofacial tissue. We also discussed current challenges in craniofacial bone vascularization and gave our view on the future direction, including establishing the interactions between tissue-engineered skeletal muscle and the peripheral nervous system.

Bilateral double site (calvarial and mandibular) critical-size bone defect model in rabbits for evaluation of a craniofacial tissue engineering constructs

Most existing preclinical models for evaluating the biosafety and bone-regeneration efficacy of innovative bone substitute materials (BSMs) or tissue engineering (TE) constructs only consisted of a single-site defect and the anatomical locations of defect varied drastically. While the compelling evidence showed that the bone healing pattern is location-dependent, owing to developmental, structural, and functional differences of anatomical locations, this is particularly true for the craniofacial region. Taking this into account, the bone healing efficiency of a BSM shown at one anatomical defect location cannot ensure the same impact at another. This prompted us to develop, for the first time, a model of bilateral critical-sized defect (CSD) at two distinctly different locations (non-load-bearing parietal calvaria and load-bearing mandibular body) co-existing in one rabbit to reduce the number of animals needed and avoid the influence of interindividual variability and evaluation bias on comparisons. 24 healthy adult male New Zealand White rabbits were randomly assigned to a group, either control, autograft (considered the "gold standard") or a clinically relevant BSM (biphasic calcium phosphate granules) (BCPg, Mastergraft®, Medronics). The full-thickness cylindrical calvarial defect (ø10 mm) on frontoparietal region and mandibular composite defect (ø11 mm) on the body of the mandible were created bilaterally using low-speed drilling with saline irrigation. The defect on one side was filled with autograft debris or BCPg, and the other side was no graft (empty). Following the euthanasia of animals at the predetermined intervals (4w and 12w), the defect zones were examined macroscopically and then sampled and processed for microcomputed tomography (microCT) and histological analysis. All surgeries went uneventfully, and all rabbits recovered slowly but steadily. No symptoms of infection or inflammation associated with the defect were observed during the experiment. At 4w and 12w, macroscopic views of all defect sites were clean without any signs of necrosis or abscess, and no intraoral communication was found. The analysis of microCT and histological findings showed the non-healing nature of the empty defect, thereby both calvaria and mandible CSDs can be validated. The study of the application of BCPg in this defect model highlighted good osteointegration and excellent osteoconductive properties but compromised the osteoinductive properties of this material (compared with autograft). To conclude, this novel double-site CSD model holds great promise in the application for preclinical evaluation of BSMs, TE construct, etc. With a reduced number of animals in use, and lower interindividual variability and evaluation bias for comparisons.