Evaluation of a self-fitting, shape memory polymer scaffold in a rabbit calvarial defect model. 2021

Michaela R Pfau, and Felipe O Beltran, and Lindsay N Woodard, and Lauren K Dobson, and Shelby B Gasson, and Andrew B Robbins, and Zachary T Lawson, and W Brian Saunders, and Michael R Moreno, and Melissa A Grunlan
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, US.

Self-fitting scaffolds prepared from biodegradable poly(ε-caprolactone)-diacrylate (PCL-DA) have been developed for the treatment of craniomaxillofacial (CMF) bone defects. As a thermoresponsive shape memory polymer (SMP), with the mere exposure to warm saline, these porous scaffolds achieve a conformal fit in defects. This behavior was expected to be advantageous to osseointegration and thus bone healing. Herein, for an initial assessment of their regenerative potential, a pilot in vivo study was performed using a rabbit calvarial defect model. Exogenous growth factors and cells were excluded from the scaffolds. Key scaffold material properties were confirmed to be maintained following gamma sterilization. To assess scaffold integration and neotissue infiltration along the defect perimeter, non-critically sized (d = 8 mm) bilateral calvarial defects were created in 12 New Zealand white rabbits. Bone formation was assessed at 4 and 16 weeks using histological analysis and micro-CT, comparing defects treated with an SMP scaffold (d = 9 mm x t = 1 or 2 mm) to untreated defects (i.e. defects able to heal without intervention). To further assess osseointegration, push-out tests were performed at 16 weeks and compared to defects treated with poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) discs (d = 8.5 mm x t = 2 mm). The results of this study confirmed that the SMP scaffolds were biocompatible and highly conducive to bone formation and ingrowth at the perimeter. Ultimately, this resulted in similar bone volume and surface area versus untreated defects and superior performance in push-out testing versus defects treated with PEEK discs. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Current treatments of craniomaxillofacial (CMF) bone defects include biologic and synthetic grafts but they are limited in their ability to form good contact with adjacent tissue. A regenerative engineering approach using a biologic-free scaffold able to achieve conformal fitting represents a potential "off-the-shelf" surgical product to heal CMF bone defects. Having not yet been evaluated in vivo, this study provided the preliminary assessment of the bone healing potential of self-fitting PCL scaffolds using a rabbit calvarial defect model. The study was designed to assess scaffold biocompatibility as well as bone formation and ingrowth using histology, micro-CT, and biomechanical push-out tests. The favorable results provide a basis to pursue establishing self-fitting scaffolds as a treatment option for CMF defects.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D010012 Osteogenesis The process of bone formation. Histogenesis of bone including ossification. Bone Formation,Ossification, Physiologic,Endochondral Ossification,Ossification,Ossification, Physiological,Osteoclastogenesis,Physiologic Ossification,Endochondral Ossifications,Ossification, Endochondral,Ossifications,Ossifications, Endochondral,Osteoclastogeneses,Physiological Ossification
D011091 Polyesters Polymers of organic acids and alcohols, with ester linkages--usually polyethylene terephthalate; can be cured into hard plastic, films or tapes, or fibers which can be woven into fabrics, meshes or velours. Polyester
D011817 Rabbits A burrowing plant-eating mammal with hind limbs that are longer than its fore limbs. It belongs to the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, and in contrast to hares, possesses 22 instead of 24 pairs of chromosomes. Belgian Hare,New Zealand Rabbit,New Zealand Rabbits,New Zealand White Rabbit,Rabbit,Rabbit, Domestic,Chinchilla Rabbits,NZW Rabbits,New Zealand White Rabbits,Oryctolagus cuniculus,Chinchilla Rabbit,Domestic Rabbit,Domestic Rabbits,Hare, Belgian,NZW Rabbit,Rabbit, Chinchilla,Rabbit, NZW,Rabbit, New Zealand,Rabbits, Chinchilla,Rabbits, Domestic,Rabbits, NZW,Rabbits, New Zealand,Zealand Rabbit, New,Zealand Rabbits, New,cuniculus, Oryctolagus
D001861 Bone Regeneration Renewal or repair of lost bone tissue. It excludes BONY CALLUS formed after BONE FRACTURES but not yet replaced by hard bone. Osteoconduction,Bone Regenerations,Regeneration, Bone,Regenerations, Bone
D000080745 Smart Materials Materials designed to change properties in response to changes in their environment adopting various predetermined shapes and/or functionalities. Actuating Material,Actuating Materials,Adaptive Material,Adaptive Materials,Intelligent Material,Intelligent Materials,Sensing Material,Sensing Materials,Shape Memory Material,Shape Memory Materials,Shape Memory Polymer,Shape Memory Polymers,Shape-Memory Material,Shape-Memory Materials,Shape-Memory Polymer,Shape-Memory Polymers,Smart Material,Material, Actuating,Material, Adaptive,Material, Intelligent,Material, Sensing,Material, Shape Memory,Material, Shape-Memory,Material, Smart,Memory Material, Shape,Memory Polymer, Shape,Polymer, Shape Memory,Polymer, Shape-Memory
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D016062 Porosity Condition of having pores or open spaces. This often refers to bones, bone implants, or bone cements, but can refer to the porous state of any solid substance. Porosities
D054457 Tissue Scaffolds Cell growth support structures composed of BIOCOMPATIBLE MATERIALS. They are specially designed solid support matrices for cell attachment in TISSUE ENGINEERING and GUIDED TISSUE REGENERATION uses. Tissue Scaffolding,Scaffold, Tissue,Scaffolding, Tissue,Scaffoldings, Tissue,Scaffolds, Tissue,Tissue Scaffold,Tissue Scaffoldings
D023822 Tissue Engineering Generating tissue in vitro for clinical applications, such as replacing wounded tissues or impaired organs. The use of TISSUE SCAFFOLDING enables the generation of complex multi-layered tissues and tissue structures. Engineering, Tissue

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