Biochemical Responses of Anodized Titanium Implants with a Poly(lactide-co-glycolide)/Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 Submicron Particle Coating. Part 2: An In Vivo Study

Abstract

Purpose: A biochemical approach to implant surfaces can improve bone growth, resulting in desirable bone-implant interfaces. This study was conducted to identify the effect on osseointegration of direct coating of titanium (Ti) implants with poly(D, L-lactide-co-glycolide)(PLGA)/recombinant human bone morphogenetic 2 (rhBMP-2) submicron particles by electrospray. Materials and Methods: Anodized Ti implants were used as a control group, and implants coated with 80 mu L of PLGA/rhBMP-2 (50 mu g/mL rhBMP-2 per implant) submicron particles by electrospray were used as the experimental group in an in vivo rabbit tibia model. After 3 or 7 weeks of healing, specimens were obtained and prepared for histologic and histomorphometric analyses. Results: The implant surface coated with submicron PLGA/rhBMP-2 showed new bone growth in the apical direction earlier than control implants. In the experimental group at 3 weeks, the bone-to-implant contact ratio and bone area of the three best consecutive threads were significantly higher than those in the control group. However, there was no significant difference between groups at 7 weeks. Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, the PLGA/rhBMP-2-coated implants facilitated osseointegration between bone and the Ti surface during the early healing phase.