STIMULATORY CAPACITY OF AN OCTACALCIUM PHOSPHATE/GELATIN COMPOSITE ON BONE REGENERATION IN A RABBIT TIBIA DEFECT MODEL

Abstract

: The present study was designed to investigate whether an octacalcium phosphate/gelatin (OCP/Gel) composite can repair a defect created in rabbit tibia within 4 weeks. Histological and μCT studies showed that the implantation of OCP/Gel composite (40 wt% OCP) enhances cortical bone deposition over the defect accompanied by the formation of cartilage and bone marrow with cancellous bone within 2 weeks. The defects were repaired even in the control group (defect only) within 4 weeks; however, the repaired cortical bone was thinner than that in the OCP/Gel-implanted group. The results suggest that an OCP/Gel composite could be effectively used as a bone substitute material for autografts.