Enhanced activity of demineralised bone matrix augmented with xenogeneic bone morphogenetic protein complex in rats.

INTRODUCTION Demineralised bone matrix (DBM) is an allograft material widely used as a bone filler and bone graft substitute. DBM contains bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), which induce and regulate bone formation during embryogenesis and in postnatal life. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To investigate the osteoinductivity of DBM augmented with xenogeneic BMP-complex at different doses. MATERIALS AND METHODS Rat DBM was augmented with BMP-complex purified from porcine diaphyseal bone. RESULTS Dorsal subcutaneous implantation of 25 mg rat allogeneic DBM augmented with 0, 3, 6 and 12 mg BMP-complex per gram of DBM resulted in dose dependant up-regulation of bone formation on day 21, as scored histologically and biochemically. CONCLUSIONS Allogeneic DBM can be augmented with xenogeneically sourced BMP-complex to improve DBM performance in vivo. This work demonstrates the potential of BMP-complex augmented DBM to induce new bone formation with improved parameters of bone formation.