Pro-angiogenic photo-crosslinked silk fibroin hydrogel: a potential candidate for repairing alveolar bone defects

Abstract Objective: This study aimed to develop a pro-angiogenic hydrogel with in situ gelation ability for alveolar bone defects repair. Methodology: Silk fibroin was chemically modified by Glycidyl Methacrylate (GMA), which was evaluated by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR). Then, the photo-crosslinking ability of the modified silk fibroin was assessed. Scratch and transwell-based migration assays were conducted to investigate the effect of the photo-crosslinked silk fibroin hydrogel on the migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). In vitro angiogenesis was conducted to examine whether the photo-crosslinked silk fibroin hydrogel would affect the tube formation ability of HUVECs. Finally, subcutaneous implantation experiments were conducted to further examine the pro-angiogenic ability of the photo-crosslinked silk fibroin hydrogel, in which the CD31 and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) were stained to assess neovascularization. The tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were also stained to evaluate inflammatory responses after implantation. Results: GMA successfully modified the silk fibroin, which we verified by our 1H-NMR and in vitro photo-crosslinking experiment. Scratch and transwell-based migration assays proved that the photo-crosslinked silk fibroin hydrogel promoted HUVEC migration. The hydrogel also enhanced the tube formation of HUVECs in similar rates to Matrigel®. After subcutaneous implantation in rats for one week, the hydrogel enhanced neovascularization without triggering inflammatory responses. Conclusion: This study found that photo-crosslinked silk fibroin hydrogel showed pro-angiogenic and inflammation inhibitory abilities. Its photo-crosslinking ability makes it suitable for matching irregular alveolar bone defects. Thus, the photo-crosslinkable silk fibroin-derived hydrogel is a potential candidate for constructing scaffolds for alveolar bone regeneration.

Research progress on "sandwich" osteotomy to increase alveolar bone / 口腔疾病防治

@#Lack of alveolar bone height is a major challenge for dental implants. In recent years, the use of "sandwich" osteotomy to increase alveolar bone height has become a topic of discussion within the research community. In theory, "sandwich" osteotomy is a U-shaped osteotomy in the bone defect area, to preserve the blood supply of the mucoperiosteal on the lingual side and to create an artificial "four-wall bone bag" to build a favorable space for osteogenesis and to increase the height of the alveolar bone. Histological studies have shown that the osteogenesis speed of "sandwich" osteotomy is fast, and the bone is good. Sandwich osteotomy is suitable for buccal-lingual alveolar bone height defects less than 50% of the implant length or for unilateral defects more than 50% of the implant length. In the operation of "sandwich" osteotomy, the horizonal incision should be 10-12 mm below the crest of the buccal alveolar ridge. The design of the osteotomy line should ensure the height of the osteotomy block and that the mandibular canal does not sustain damage and that it fits the shape of the bone defect. There was no significant difference in the osteogenic effect of different types of bone graft materials used for "sandwich" osteotomy. The osteotomy block was rigorously fixed by a titanium plate, titanium nail, implant and other materials, and finally, the intraoperative area was tensioned and sutured. The effect of bone augmentation was evaluated and compared with other bone augmentation techniques; the evaluation showed that sandwich osteotomy was better for moderate vertical bone defects. This technique is highly sensitive and postoperative transient sensory loss is common. With advances in technology, the application of digital technology and ultrasonic bone knives, the risk of complications is greatly reduced and advances in digital osteotomy will promote apply of "sandwich" osteotomy, which will become a popularized technique for clinical alveolar bone augmentation.

Expert consensus on the bone augmentation surgery for alveolar bone defects / 口腔疾病防治

@#Alveolar bone is an important anatomic basis for implant-supported denture restoration, and its different degrees of defects determine the choices of bone augmentation surgeries. Therefore, the reconstruction of alveolar bone defects is an important technology in the clinical practice of implant restoration. However, the final reconstructive effect of bone quality, bone quantity and bone morphology is affected by many factors. Clinicians need to master the standardized diagnosis and treatment principles and methods to improve the treatment effect and achieve the goal of both aesthetic and functional reconstruction of both jaws. Based on the current clinical experience of domestic experts and the relevant academic guidelines of foreign counterparts, this expert consensus systematically and comprehensively summarized the augmentation strategies of alveolar bone defects from two aspects: the classification of alveolar bone defects and the appropriate selection of bone augmentation surgeries. The following consensus are reached: alveolar bone defects can be divided into five types (Ⅰ-0, Ⅰ-Ⅰ, Ⅱ-0, Ⅱ-Ⅰ and Ⅱ-Ⅱ) according to the relationship between alveolar bone defects and the expected position of dental implants. A typeⅠ-0 bone defect is a bone defect on one side of the alveolar bone that does not exceed 50% of the expected implant length, and there is no obvious defect on the other side; guided bone regeneration with simultaneous implant implantation is preferred. Type Ⅰ-Ⅰ bone defects refer to bone defects on both sides of alveolar bone those do not exceed 50% of the expected implant length; the first choice is autologous bone block onlay grafting for bone increments with staged implant placement or transcrestal sinus floor elevation with simultaneous implant implantation. Type Ⅱ-0 bone defects show that the bone defect on one side of alveolar bone exceeds 50% of the expected implant length, and there’s no obvious defect on the other side; autologous bone block onlay grafting (thickness ≤ 4 mm) or alveolar ridge splitting (thickness > 4 mm) is preferred for bone augmentation with staged implant placement. Type Ⅱ-Ⅰ bone defects indicate that the bone plate defect on one side exceeds 50% of the expected implant length and the bone defect on the other side does not exceed 50% of the expected implant length; autologous bone block onlay grafting or tenting techniques is preferred for bone increments with staged implant implantation. Type Ⅱ-Ⅱ bone defects are bone plates on both sides of alveolar bone those exceed 50% of the expected implant length; guided bone regeneration with rigid mesh or maxillary sinus floor elevation or cortical autologous bone tenting is preferred for bone increments with staged implant implantation. This consensus will provide clinical physicians with appropriate augmentation strategies for alveolar bone defects.

The effect of ellagic acid on the repair process of periodontal defects related to experimental periodontitis in rats

Abstract Objective This study aims to evaluate the effect of ellagic acid (EA) by measuring the levels of alveolar bone resorption and inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in the periodontal tissues and serum on the periodontal repair process related to experimental periodontitis in rats. Methodology Forty Wistar rats were divided into four study groups as follows: Group 1=healthy control (n=10); Group 2=EA control (15 mg/kg)(n=10); Group 3=periodontitis (n=10); Group 4=periodontitis+EA (15 mg/kg) (n=10). The periodontitis model was established by ligating bilateral mandibular first molars for 14 days. Then, rats were given normal saline or EA for another 14 days by gavage administration. Serum and gingiva myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine(8-OHdG), and glutathione (GSH) levels were analyzed by ELISA. İmmunohistochemical analysis was used to detect Interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) immunoreactivities in the periodontal tissues. Alveolar bone loss (ABL) and attachment loss (AL) was evaluated by histomorphometry analysis. Results ABL and AL were statistically higher in group 3 than in groups 1, 2 and 4 and in group 4 than in groups 1 and 2 (p<0.05). MPO activities in gingival tissue and serum were significantly increased in group 3 compared to groups 1 and 2 (p<0.05). Significantly higher serum GSH levels, lower gingiva, and serum 8-OHdG levels, and MPO activity were observed in group 4 compared to group 3 (p<0.05). Rats with periodontitis (group 3) expressed significantly higher immunoreactivities of IL-6 and TNF-α and lower IL-10 immunoreactivity compared to those other groups (p<0.05). IL-6 and TNF-α immunoreactivities significantly decreased and IL-10 immunoreactivity increased in group 4 after the use of EA compared to group 3 (p<0.001). Conclusions Our findings showed that EA provides significant improvements on gingival oxidative stress and inflammatory markers and alveolar bone resorption in the repair process associated with experimental periodontitis. Therefore, EA may have a therapeutic potential on periodontitis.

Volumetric measurement of alveolar bone defect / 中华整形外科杂志

Objective@#Explore the method for volumetric measurement of alveolar bone defect.@*Methods@#This study applied 2 advanced preoperative volume measurement methods: three-dimensional (3D) printing and computer-aided engineering (CAE). Twenty-six unilateral alveolar cleft patients were enrolled in this study from April 2015 to December 2016. Their computed tomographic data were sent to 3D printing and CAE software. A simulated graft was used on the 3D-printed model, and the graft volume was measured by water displacement. The volume calculated by CAE software used mirror-reverses technique.@*Results@#The volume of alveolar bone defect could be detected by both methods. The average volume of the simulated bone grafts by 3D-printed models was 1.61 ml, a little higher than the mean volume of 1.60 ml calculated by CAE software. The difference between the 2 volumes was from -0.34 ml to 0.54 ml. The paired Student t test showed no statistically significant difference between the volumes derived from the 2 methods.@*Conclusions@#This study demonstrated that the volume of alveolar bone defect is about 1.6ml in unilateral alveolar cleft patients aged 9-12 years. The mirror-reversed technique by CAE software is as accurate as the simulated operation on 3D-printed models. These findings further validate the use of 3D printing and CAE technique in alveolar defect repairing.

Comparative Study of BMP-2 Alone and Combined with VEGF Carried by Hydrogel for Maxillary Alveolar Bone Regeneration

The effect of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) combined with bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) for bone regeneration is still controversial as to whether or not VEGF has a synergistic or additive effect. This study attempted to evaluate the synergistic effect of VEGF and BMP-2 compared to BMP-2 alone for maxillary alveolar bone regeneration using collagen sponge/hydrogel complex sheets in a canine model. After mixing BMP-2 and VEGF with a hyaluronic acid-based hydrogel (HAH), the collagen sponge/hydrogel complex was transplanted into maxillary alveolar bone defects (n=14) after the extraction of canine upper first molars on both sides. Bone regeneration was evaluated in three groups (control group without growth factors, experimental groups I and II with BMP-2 alone and BMP-2 and VEGF, respectively) using micro-computed tomography and histological staining. The total amount of new bone formations and bone mineral density were significantly higher in the group with BMP-2 only and the group with BMP-2 combined with VEGF than it in the control group. The area with positive staining of von Willebrand factor bone defect was significantly greater in the group with BMP-2 only and with dual growth factors than the control. BMP-2 released from the HAH promoted new bone formation. However, the combination of BMP-2 and VEGF did not show a synergistic or additive effect on bone regeneration at canine maxillary alveolar bone defects.