Morphological assessment of the behavior of three‐dimensional anionic collagen matrices in bone regeneration in rats

The osteogenic behavior of three‐dimensional collagenic and anionic matrices (M3DGA) implanted in critical bone defects of 8 mm diameter was morphologically assessed. The defects were performed in the calvaria of 48 adult male (Wistar) rats, and observed at days 15, 30, and 60. The animals were distributed in four groups of equal number: GA1 (M3DGA with 60 min of cross‐linking in glutaraldehyde [GA]); GA2 (M3DGA with 30 min of cross‐linking in GA); GA3 (M3DGA with 15 min of cross‐linking in GA); and G4 (control group, without any implanted biomaterial). The M3DGAs were biocompatible, with mild and regressive chronic granulomatous inflammation, associated with the degradation of their fibers. Furthermore, tissue neovascularization and neomineralization was noted, with statistically significant differences in these amounts among the groups (GA1, GA2, and GA3) and G4. In G4 neoformation was limited to the edges of the defect as well as interstitial fibrosis. Under the experimental conditions and for the parameters analyzed, the M3DGAs had osteogenic behavior, which was more evident in M3DGA 15 min. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2006