Objective: To improve the osteoinduction of coral and provide a perfect bone graft substitute for clinical bone defects.
Methods: By combining coral with collagen and recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2(rhBMP-2), coral/collagen/rhBMP-2 composite was obtained. The composite was implanted into the back muscle pouches of mice, and coral/collagen or coral/rhBMP-2 were implanted as control. The osteoinduction of the composite was assessed by histology and image analysis system.
Results: The chondrocyte differentiation and matrix formation were observed in local sites after one week, lamellar bone with bone marrow were formed after 4 weeks, and coral were absorbed partially. The quantity of osteoinduction was time-related and rhBMP-2 dose-related(P < 0.01). Coral/collagen and coral/rhBMP-2 implants did not show any bone or cartilage formation.
Conclusion: The coral/collagen/rhBMP-2 composite possesses a superior osteoinduction and will be a new type of bone substitute to be used in orthopedic and maxillofacial surgery.