Multiwalled carbon nanotubes improve the morphology of the femoral head of a rabbit model of steroid-induced necrosis of femoral head / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Multiwaled carbon nanotubes can accelerate the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts, and exert a therapeutic effect on steroid-induced necrosis of femoral head (SNFH). OBJECTIVE:To investigate the function of multiwaled carbon nanotubes in the establishment of a rabbit model of SNFH. METHODS:Thirty-six New Zealand white rabbits were divided randomly into three groups. In treatment group, 16 rabbits were given intraglutealy injection of dexamethasone (2.5 mg/kg) every day and injection of 1 mL liquor of multiwaled carbon nanotubes (0.1 g/L) into the bilateral femur medulary space every week. In model group, 16 rabbits were given intraglutealy injection of dexamethasone (2.5 mg/kg) every day and injection of 1 mL normal saline into the bilateral femur medulary space every week. In control group, four rabbits were given intraglutealy injection of 2 mL normal saline every day and injection of 1 mL normal saline into the bilateral femur medulary space every week. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Four weeks after hormone injection, the trabeculae began to exhibit a smal amount of thinner fractures, an accumulation of fatty tissue in the bone marrow were obvious, bone marrow fat cels became bigger and microvascular thrombosis appeared in the model group, while there was no positive histopathological manifestation in the treatment group. This indicates that the multiwaled carbon nanotubes can extenuate pathological damage to the femoral head to a certain extent.