Effect of Poly(vinylidene-trifluoroethylene)/Barium Titanate Membrane on Bone Formation in Rat Calvaria Defects

Author(s)

Helena Bacha Lopes

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Ribeirão Preto.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Odontologia de Ribeirão Preto (PCARP/BC)
• Defense date: 2014-06-27

Examining board members

Márcio Mateus Beloti; Rossano Gimenes; Mauro Pedrine Santamaria

• Advisor: Márcio Mateus Beloti

Abstract

Biological principles of guided bone regeneration (GBR) have contributed to development of membranes that, in dentistry, are used in several situations such as treatment with dental implants, alveolar bone augmentation and repair of traumatic and pathological bone defects. Results of in vitro experiments comparing membrane obtained by the combination of poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) and barium titanate ceramics (P(VDF-TrFE)/BT) with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane showed a favorable response of osteoblasts, fibroblasts and keratinocytes to the P(VDF-TrFE)/BT membrane. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of P(VDFTrFE)/ BT membrane on in vivo bone formation. Bone defects with 5 mm in diameter were created in calvaria of male Wistar rats (weight 200-250 g), distributed into three groups regarding the use or not of membranes on defects: (1) P(VDF-TrFE)/BT membrane; (2) PTFE membrane; (3) no membrane. At the end of 4 and 8 weeks, the animals were euthanized and samples were subjected to: (1) computed microtomography analysis (micro-CT) to assess bone volume, bone surface, specific bone surface, trabecular number, trabecular thickness and trabecular separation; (2) histological analysis based on non-decalcified histological sections; (3) real time polymerase chain reaction (real time PCR) to evaluate gene expression of the bone markers runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bone sialoprotein (BSP), osteocalcin (OC), osteoprotegerin (OPG) and receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL); (4) microRNAs (miRs) sequencing analysis at Illumina platform. Data from morphometric and gene expression analyses were submitted to the Kruskal-Wallis test followed by Fischer\'s test, when appropriate, and from miRs expression to the Mann-Whitney test to compare P(VDF-TrFE)/BT with PTFE membrane. For all comparisons, the significance level was 0.05. Defects without membrane exhibit a non significant bone formation. Both membranes favored osteogenesis with an increased bone formation on the P(VDF-TrFE)/BT membrane compared with PTFE at 4 (p=0.05) and 8 weeks (p=0.001). Trabecular separation was greater on PTFE membrane compared with the P(VDF-TrFE)/BT at 4 (p=0.05) and 8 weeks (p=0.001). At 4 weeks, the gene expression of BSP (p=0.01), OC (p=0.001) and OPG (p=0.001) were higher on P(VDF-TrFE)/BT membrane compared with PTFE, while RANKL (p=0.001) was lower. The gene expression of RUNX2 (p=0.001) and OC (p=0.05) were higher and ALP (p=0.05), RANKL (p=0.01) and OPG (p=0.001) were lower on the membrane of P(VDF- TrFE)/BT compared with PTFE at 8 weeks. Fortyfive and 13 miRs were up-regulated (> 2 fold) at 4 weeks and 8 weeks, respectively, and 11 and 39 miRs were negatively regulated (> 2 fold) at 4 weeks and 8 weeks, respectively, on the P(VDF-TrFE)/BT membrane compared with PTFE membrane. The results indicate that the P(VDF-TrFE)/BT membrane favors bone formation compared with PTFE membrane and, therefore, may be considered a promising biomaterial for using in GBR procedures. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/13623-0 - Effect of the Poly(Vinylidene-Trifluoroethylene)/Barium Titanate Membrane on the Bone Formation in Rat Cavariae Defects
• Grantee: Helena Bacha Lopes
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master