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Biocompatibility and Osseointegration of a Novel 3D Printed Poly(lactic‑co‑glycolic acid) Graphene‐based Nanoscaffold in a Rat Femoral Critical Sized Segmental Defect
Author(s) -
Newby Steven,
Bow Austin,
Bourdo Shawn,
Gross Andrew,
Cheever V. Joseph,
Moffat Ryan,
Licari Frank,
Hung Man,
Dhar Madhu
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.2021.35.s1.03587
Subject(s) - biocompatibility , osseointegration , biomedical engineering , femur , implant , x ray microtomography , h&e stain , materials science , medicine , staining , surgery , pathology , radiology , metallurgy
Defects within the long bones of patients from serious complications can carry extensive damage. The design and implantation of a biofabricated biocompatible implant into the nonunion plays an important role in promoting bone and vasculature. Microcomputed tomography (micro‐CT) is a fundamental apparatus for evaluating biomaterial‐osteo remodeling and regeneration. It can provide information about the biocompatibility of an implant as well as the 3D microarchitecture and distribution of tissue in the region of interest (ROI). This study was performed to evaluate the in vivo biocompatibility, and osseointegration of novel biofabricated graphene‐based scaffolds. Two scaffold iterations of poly (lactic‐ co ‐glycolide) (PLGA) [Mix 1 ‐ 50:50+65:35] and [Mix 2 50:50+75:25] were blended with two forms of graphene. A 5mm segmental femur defect created in 6‐8 week old female Sprague Dawley rats was used as the test model. Defects were monitored radiographically at days 7, 14, 21, 30 and 60. Rats were sacrificed at 60 days post‐treatment and their femurs were harvested for micro‐CT and histological analyses. Micro‐CT provided visualization of full femur prior to histology and helped to define ROI which facilitated proper orientation for sectioning. Subsequently, the bone volume to tissue volume ratios for each bone were compared at four different thresholds in order to capture the new trabecular and cortical bone throughout the defect. All of the rats were weight bearing within 3 days of surgery. Evaluation of the decalcified samples using hematoxylin/eosin and Masson Trichrome staining demonstrated healthy osseointegration of the implant with the natural tissue. There was no evidence of any adverse reaction at the surgery site, confirming the in vivo biocompatibility of the polymer and the nanoparticles. This study demonstrates that implants fabricated with blended PLGA polymers containing graphene‐based nanoparticles can be used safely in weight‐bearing rodent bone defects. Implants can be used to deliver mesenchymal stem cells and growth factors as therapeutic modalities.