BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The osteogenic potency of erythropoietin (EPO) has been documented. However, its efficacy in a large-animal model has not yet been investigated; nor has a clinically safe dosage. The purpose of this study was to overcome such limitations of previous studies and thereby pave the way for possible clinical application. Our hypothesis was that EPO increases calvarial bone hea...

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to compare the bone regeneration effects of cortical, cancellous, and cortico-cancellous human bone substitutes on calvarial defects of rabbits. METHODS Four 8-mm diameter calvarial defects were created in each of nine New Zealand white rabbits. Freeze-dried cortical bone, freeze-dried cortico-cancellous bone, and demineralized bone matrix with freeze-dri...

PURPOSE Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) has been widely used in the evaluation of regenerated bone tissue but the reliability of micro-CT has not yet been established. This study evaluated the correlation between histomorphometric analysis and micro-CT analysis in performing new bone formation measurement. METHODS Critical-size calvarial defects were created using a 8 mm trephine bur in ...

INTRODUCTION In extreme situations in which the extent of bone loss or damage is too large, complete regeneration will not occur. Such bone defects in the craniofacial complex are often a result of trauma or cancer surgery. Approximately 1,600,000 bone grafts are performed each year to regenerate bone loss due to trauma or disease; 6% of these (96,000) are cranio-maxillofacial in nature. Autolo...

The initial step of bone regeneration requires the migration of osteogenic cells to defective sites. Our previous studies suggest that a salmon DNA-based scaffold can promote the bone regeneration of calvarial defects in rats. We speculate that the salmon DNA may possess osteoinductive properties, including the homing of migrating osteogenic cells. In the present study, we investigated the infl...

Calcium phosphates like hydroxyapatite (HA), beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP), and their mixtures (biphasic calcium phosphates; BCP) are used clinically to repair bone defects. These materials can be difficult to handle and have no inherent biological activity. Handling properties of other bone substitute materials have been improved by combining them with an inert carrier such as Pluronic ...

Leveraging the differential response of genes to mechanical loading may allow for identification novel therapeutics and we have recently established placental growth factor (PGF) as a mechanically augmented gene which promotes angiogenesis at higher doses osteogenesis lower doses. Herein, sought execute mechanobiology-informed approach regenerative medicine by designing functionalized scaffold ...