Effect of collagen and carrageenan membranes for exosome delivery in bone regeneration

• Grant number: 25/07423-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2025
• End date: June 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry - Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Principal Investigator: Adalberto Luiz Rosa
• Grantee: Adna Zulim Leite
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia de Ribeirão Preto (FORP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 19/08568-2 - Investigation of the extracellular vesicles (VEs) role in the initiation, propagation, regeneration, and modeling of biological mineralization, AP.TEM

Abstract

In Dentistry and Medicine, there is often a need for bone regeneration to achieve both functional and aesthetic rehabilitation through the development of biomaterials, such as biomembranes. Recently, the research group has shown that collagen and carrageenan membranes present osteogenic potential and could be used as carriers of extracellular vesicles (EVs), including exosomes (EXOs), which play a crucial role in cell communication and bone mineralization. This study aims to evaluate the effect of collagen and carrageenan membranes for EXO release in bone regeneration. For this purpose, the membranes will be developed from collagen extracted from rat tail tendons, combined with carrageenan (k-carr) to improve the material mechanical stability and biocompatibility. EXOs will be obtained from MC3T3 cell lineage at concentrations of 20 ¿g/mL and will keep under agitation to allow vesicle binding to collagen fibrils. Bone defects of 5 mm will be created in the calvaria of Sprague- Dawley rats, through the application of the following treatments: Control (blood clot), Membrane (collagen/k-carr), and Membrane-EXOs (collagen/k-carr) associated with exosomes. Bone regeneration will be assessed through in vivo micro-computed tomography (µCT) immediately after the surgery (T0), 14 (T1), and 28 days (T2) postoperatively, along with histological analyses performed after 28 days. The integration of natural osteoinductive properties of EXOs into the membranes will allow the development of an innovative and efficient biomaterial for bone regeneration. These findings will have the potential to contribute for the advancements in regenerative medicine, offering viable alternatives to conventional grafting techniques. (AU)