Bilateral dens evaginatus and associated cystic pathology: An unusual case report.

Dens evaginatus (DE) presents a clinical conundrum due to its fragility and propensity to cause pulpal and periapical complications. Clinicians should heed the presence of DE during clinical examinations and avoid unnecessary intervention.

Rational synthesis of a heparan sulfate saccharide that promotes the activity of BMP2.

Heparan sulfate (HS) is a glycosaminoglycan (GAG) found throughout nature and is involved in a wide range of functions including modulation of cell signalling via sequestration of growth factors. Current consensus is that the specificity of HS motifs for protein binding are individual for each protein. Given the structural complexity of HS the synthesis of libraries of these compounds to probe this is not trivial. Herein we present the synthesis of an HS decamer, the design of which was undertaken rationally from previously published data for HS binding to the growth factor BMP-2. The biological activity of this HS decamer was assessed in vitro, showing that it had the ability to both bind BMP-2 and increase its thermal stability as well as enhancing the bioactivity of BMP-2 in vitro in C2C12 cells. At the same time no undesired anticoagulant effect was observed. This decamer was then analysed in vivo in a rabbit model where higher bone formation, bone mineral density (BMD) and trabecular thickness were observed over an empty defect or collagen implant alone. This indicated that the HS decamer was effective in promoting bone regeneration in vivo.

Indications for implant-supported rehabilitation of the posterior atrophic maxilla: A multidisciplinary consensus among experts in the field utilising the modified Delphi method.

PURPOSE: To establish consensus-driven guidelines that could support the clinical decision-making process for implant-supported rehabilitation of the posterior atrophic maxilla and ultimately improve long-term treatment outcomes and patient satisfaction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 33 participants were enrolled (18 active members of the Italian Academy of Osseointegration and 15 international experts). Based on the available evidence, the development group discussed and proposed an initial list of 20 statements, which were later evalu-ated by all participants. After the forms were completed, the responses were sent for blinded ana-lysis. In most cases, when a consensus was not reached, the statements were rephrased and sent to the participants for another round of evaluation. Three rounds were planned. RESULTS: After the first round of voting, participants came close to reaching a consensus on six statements, but no consensus was achieved for the other fourteen. Following this, nineteen statements were rephrased and sent to participants again for the second round of voting, after which a consensus was reached for six statements and almost reached for three statements, but no consensus was achieved for the other ten. All 13 statements upon which no consensus was reached were rephrased and included in the third round. After this round, a consensus was achieved for an additional nine statements and almost achieved for three statements, but no consensus was reached for the remaining statement. CONCLUSION: This Delphi consensus highlights the importance of accurate preoperative planning, taking into consideration the maxillomandibular relationship to meet the functional and aesthetic requirements of the final restoration. Emphasis is placed on the role played by the sinus bony walls and floor in providing essential elements for bone formation, and on evaluation of bucco-palatal sinus width for choosing between lateral and transcrestal sinus floor elevation. Tilted and trans-sinus implants are considered viable options, whereas caution is advised when placing pterygoid implants. Zygomatic implants are seen as a potential option in specific cases, such as for completely edentulous elderly or oncological patients, for whom conventional alternatives are unsuitable.

Affinity-selected heparan sulfate collagen device promotes periodontal regeneration in an intrabony defect model in Macaca fascicularis.

It is challenging to regenerate periodontal tissues fully. We have previously reported a heparan sulfate variant with enhanced affinity for bone morphogenetic protein-2, termed HS3, that enhanced periodontal tissue regeneration in a rodent model. Here we seek to transition this work closer to the clinic and investigate the efficacy of the combination HS3 collagen device in a non-human primate (NHP) periodontitis model. Wire-induced periodontitis was generated in ten Macaca fascicularis, and defects were treated with Emdogain or collagen (CollaPlug) loaded with (1) distilled water, (2) HS low (36 µg of HS3), or (3) HS high (180 µg of HS3) for 3 months. At the endpoint, microscopic assessment showed significantly less epithelial down-growth, greater alveolar bone filling, and enhanced cementum and periodontal ligament regeneration following treatment with the HS-collagen combination devices. When evaluated using a periodontal regeneration assessment score (PRAS) on a scale of 0-16, collagen scored 6.78 (± 2.64), Emdogain scored 10.50 (± 1.73) and HS low scored 10.40 (± 1.82). Notably, treatment with HS high scored 12.27 (± 2.20), while healthy control scored 14.80 (± 1.15). This study highlights the efficacy of an HS-collagen device for periodontal regeneration in a clinically relevant NHP periodontitis model and warrants its application in clinical trials.

Whole-exome sequencing revealed a novel ERCC6 variant in a Vietnamese patient with Cockayne syndrome.

We describe a case of Cockayne syndrome without photosensitivity in a Vietnamese family. This lack of photosensitivity prevented the establishment of a confirmed medical clinical diagnosis for 16 years. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) identified a novel missense variant combined with a known nonsense variant in the ERCC6 gene, NM_000124.4: c.[2839C>T;2936A>G], p.[R947*;K979R]. This case emphasizes the importance of WES in investigating the etiology of a disease when patients do not present the complete clinical phenotypes of Cockayne syndrome.

The Aesthetic Contour Graft - Enhancing peri-implant soft tissue contours and pontic sites with guided bone regeneration.

OBJECTIVE: In this article, we will discuss strategies for enhancing peri-implant soft tissue contours and pontic sites with hard tissue augmentation. CLINICAL CONSIDERATION: One of the keys to the esthetic illusion of an implant-supported restoration is to create an ideal emergence profile. A critical part of any emergence profile is based on the height and thickness of the tissue surrounding the restoration and whether there are any defects in this tissue. Even when there is adequate bone in which to place implants, if any irregular ridge anatomy that supports this tissue is not corrected, then an unesthetic appearance of the restoration can result due to the lack of soft tissue with which to develop a proper emergence profile. CONCLUSION: Most peri-implant soft tissue deficiencies represent an underlying bony defect that can be corrected or enhanced through bone augmentation. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Traditional methods of enhancing soft tissue emergence profiles around implants and pontic sites mostly involve the use of soft tissue augmentation techniques. Although there are few reports of the use of bone augmentation for this purpose, soft tissue contours can be enhanced by augmenting the underlying bone contours and, in many instances, may obviate the need for subsequent soft tissue augmentation.

Managing a Deficient Site: How to Augment Prior to Implant Placement in the Esthetic Zone.

The loss of teeth can result in moderate alveolar ridge shrinkage. This bone loss is exacerbated if there are pre-existing endodontic pathologies and/or periodontal disease. Achieving an ideal esthetic outcome is challenging when moderate bone and soft-tissue defects exist. Bone augmentation is often required to create ideal gingival contours and esthetics. This article discusses augmentation strategies to enhance esthetic outcomes for common alveolar ridge defects.

Comparative evaluation of implant stability quotient trends, crestal bone loss and survival of photofunctionalised and untreated dental implants: A split-mouth randomised controlled clinical trial.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the crestal bone loss and implant stability quotient trends of photofunctionalised versus untreated implants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 34 patients (age 46.94 ± 12.03 years) with bilateral single missing teeth in the same arch were enrolled in this study. Each patient received an untreated implant on one side (control group, n = 34) and a photofunctionalised implant on the contralateral side (test group, n = 34). Crestal bone loss was assessed at the time of crown insertion and 1 year later. The osseointegration speed index was evaluated for both the control and test group. An independent t test was used for intergroup comparisons of crestal bone loss and osseointegration speed index. Bivariate analysis was performed for the confounding variables. RESULTS: The test group showed a statistically significantly higher osseointegration speed index (3.07) as compared to the control group (1.29) (P < 0.01). Statistically significantly higher crestal bone loss was observed in the control group (-0.57 ± 0.41 mm) as compared to the test group (-0.27 ± 0.35 mm) (P < 0.01). The difference between mean Plaque Index and Bleeding Index in the control (0.74/0.38) and test group (0.73/0.35) was statistically insignificant (P > 0.05). A negative correlation (r = -0.272) was noted between implant diameter and crestal bone loss. A positive correlation (r = 0.402) was observed between implant length and osseointegration speed index. CONCLUSION: Implants with photofunctionalised surfaces reduce overall healing time and crestal bone loss. Photofunctionalisation is an effective aid for chairside conditioning of implant surfaces to achieve faster osseointegration with good crestal bone stability.

A biomimetic collagen-bone granule-heparan sulfate combination scaffold for BMP2 delivery.

Bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2)-induced bone regeneration is most efficacious when a carrier can deliver the growth factor into the defect site while minimizing off-target effects. The control of BMP2 release by such carriers is proving one of the most critical aspects of BMP2 therapy. Thus, increasing numbers of biomaterials are being developed to satisfy the simultaneous need for sustained release, reduced rates of degradation and enhanced activity of the growth factor. Here we report on a biomimetic scaffold consisting of bovine collagen type I, bone granules (Intergraft™), and heparan sulfate with increased affinity for BMP2 (HS3). The HS3 and collagen were complexed and then crosslinked via a simple dehydrothermal method. When loaded with a clinically relevant amount of BMP2 (1.25 mg/cc), the HS3-functionalised scaffolds were able to retain up to 58% of the initial amount of BMP2 over 27 days, approximately 3-fold higher than scaffolds without HS3. The bioactivity of the retained BMP2 was confirmed by gene expression in myoblast cells (C2C12) cultured on the scaffolds under osteogenic stimulation. Together these data demonstrate the efficacy of HS3 as a material to improve the performance collagen/bone granule-based scaffolds.

Ultrasound and CBCT analysis of blood flow and dimensions of the lingual vascular canal: A case control study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the correlation between the diameter of the mandibular lingual vascular canal (MLVC) as determined on CBCT examination to blood flow and arterial diameter as determined by ultrasound Doppler analysis (USG) in dentate and edentulous patients. METHODS: 20 subjects were equally distributed into two groups based on the status of their dentition. Group 1 included dentate subjects (DE) and Group 2 included edentulous subjects (ED).The subjects from both the groups underwent CBCT scan for the assesement of the diameter of the MLVC.Similarly, USG was done to assess the diameter of the sublingual artery anastomosis and blood flow in the anterior mandible. Data was analysed using Karl Pearson's Correlation coefficient test and Student's unpaired 't' test. RESULTS: Irrespective of the status of the dentition and age, a positive correlation was noted between the diameter of foramen on CBCT examination and the diameter of anastomosing artery as studied by the USG (r â€‹= â€‹0.290).Similarly, a positive correlation was observed between the diameter of foramen on CBCT and the volume of blood entering the mandible (r â€‹= â€‹0.447).A positive correlation (r â€‹= â€‹0.138) was observed between the diameter of the anastomosing artery and the volume of blood entering the mandible. CONCLUSION: The anterior mandible has a rich vascular supply independent of age and status of the dentition.The dimensions and location of MVLC could be assessed on a CBCT prior to implant placement so that the operating surgeon has an idea about the vascularity of the region. Further studies with higher sample size should be undertaken to confirm these findings.

A simple method for detection of a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) using one-step RT-PCR followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism.

A novel coronavirus associated with acute respiratory disease (named SARS-CoV-2) is recently identified in Wuhan city, China, spread rapidly worldwide. Early identification of this novel coronavirus by molecular tools is critical for surveillance and control of the epidemic outbreak. We aimed to establish a simple method for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in differentiating with SARS-CoV. Primers of our in-house reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays were designed to target conserved regions of the RdRP gene and E gene, selected restriction enzymes EcoRI, Tsp45I, and AluI to distinguish between SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV. In this report, a 396-bp fragment of the RdRp gene and 345-bp fragment of the E gene were amplified by one-step RT-PCR. Enzyme Tsp45I cuts the RdRP-amplified product of SARS-CoV-2 generating three fragments of 45, 154, and 197 bp, but it did not cut the amplicon of SARS-CoV. In contrast, the amplified product of SARS-CoV was digested with EcoRI producing two fragments of 76 and 320 bp, whereas the amplicon of SARS-CoV-2 was undigested by Tsp45I help to distinguish clearly SARS-CoV-2 from SARS-CoV on gel electrophoresis. In addition, AluI cut the amplicon of the E gene of SARS-CoV-2 generating two fragments of 248 and 97 bp without cutting to SARS-CoV. The accuracy of the assay was confirmed by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. When evaluated on clinical samples showed a high sensitivity of 95%, specificity of our assay was 100% and clinical performance for detection of SARS-CoV-2 in comparison with other reference assays. In conclusion, in the present study, we successfully developed a simple method for molecular detection of SARS-CoV-2 in differentiating with SARS-CoV.

Anatomic variations of the osteomeatal complex and its relationship to patency of the maxillary ostium: A retrospective evaluation of cone-beam computed tomography and its implications for sinus augmentation.

AIM: The aim of this study is to determine the incidence of obliterated osteomeatal complex (OMC) due to the presence of anatomic variants. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Retrospective Study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, a total of 71 patients, 34 males and 37 females, aged 35-65 years were included in the study. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans of patients were assessed to identify the status of the OMC in the presence of anatomic variants and their incidence was recorded. The radiological assessment of the anatomical variants was made by viewing the coronal sections of the scans. The variants observed were deviated nasal septum, uncinate process), agger nasi, Haller cells, middle turbinate variants, enlarged bulla, accessory ostium, and maxillary sinus abnormalities). Ostium patency was evaluated in the coronal section of each sinus and classified as "patent" or "obstructed." The most common variants observed were then correlated with the patency of the ostium. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Chi square test was performed to assess the association between the anatomic variants and the patency of the OMC. RESULTS: In the present study, the incidence of an obliterated OMC due to the presence of anatomic variants was 73.2%. The four most common variants associated with the possibility of an obliterated OMC were the deviated nasal septum (76.2%), middle turbinate (86.4%), enlarged bulla (77.8%), and sinus cavity variants (80.0%). A statistically significant association was noted between middle turbinate variants and Haller cells and the patency of the OMC. CONCLUSION: Thorough pretreatment CBCT evaluation should be performed to assess the presence of anatomic variants and thereby, the patency of the ostium before sinus floor elevation procedures. The pre and postsurgical treatment plans and regimes can be modified according to anticipated postsurgical sequelae, thereby avoiding postsurgical complications and enhancing the success of the graft procedure.

Successive Reimplantation of Dental Implants Into Sites of Previous Failure.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the survival rates of dental implants that had been reimplanted in sites of previous failure, including first, second, and third reimplantations, and investigate the various factors that could affect the reimplantation outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All dental implants placed in sites of previous implant failure were identified, including first, second, and third reimplantations. The survival rates were assessed, and epidemiologic and clinical data were collected and analyzed to evaluate the effects on reimplantation survival. RESULTS: The survival rate for the total number of initial implants placed was 95.4% (5280 of 5532). For the 208 patients with failed implants, the survival rate was 62.0% (412 of 664). The survival rate of the implants placed in the sites of previous failure (first reimplantation) was 77.4% (137 of 177 implants). A statistically significant difference was found (P = .0001) between the survival rates of implants placed for the first time and implants placed into sites of previous failure. The survival rate of the second reimplantations was 72.7% (16 of 22). The survival rate of the third reimplantations was 50.0% (1 of 2). Each implant and reimplant group demonstrated a statistically significant greater percentage of postoperative pain reports in the failure group than in the survival group. A significantly greater percentage of early failures (failures occurring before abutment connection) occurred compared with late failures for each implant and reimplant group. CONCLUSIONS: Dental implants placed in sites of previous implant failure had lower survival rates than those of the initial implants, and our findings suggested that the survival rates will be consecutively lower with each successive reimplantation at the same site. Implant and reimplant failures were associated with higher rates of postoperative pain reports and were more often early failures. Such suggestions could improve clinicians' prediction for implant failure and allow for optimization of the conditions to improve implant survival.

Flavonol glycosides from Fissistigma maclurei.

Two new flavonol glycosides, fissmacosides A (1) and B (2) along with two known flavonol glycosides, kaempferol 3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)-ß-d-galactopyranoside (3) and kaempferol 3-O-ß-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)-[4-(E)-feruloyl]-ß-d-galactopyranoside (4) were isolated from the methanol extract of the leaves of Fissistigma maclurei Merr. Their structures were determined on the basis of extensive spectroscopic methods, including 1D-, 2D-NMR, and MS data.

An Objective Assessment of Orthognathic Surgery Patients.

OBJECTIVES: To retrospectively assess malocclusions, skeletal relationships and the functional needs of orthognathic patients treated in a University teaching hospital. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This study used clinical records of 100 consecutive patients [51 female, 49 males, mean (SD) age =21.5 (2.71) years] who had orthognathic surgery in a Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences affiliated hospital (9/2014-7/2017). Malocclusion type (incisor classification), sagittal skeletal pattern (ANB angle), index of orthognathic functional treatment need (IOFTN) score, and osteotomy type were recorded. RESULTS: Overall, 66%, 31%, and 3% had Class III, II, and Class I malocclusions, respectively. Similarly, 68% and 32% had Class III and II sagittal skeletal relationships, respectively. Overall, 95% of patients scored IOFTN 4 or 5. The most prevalent IOFTN score were 4.3 (37%), 5.3 (16%), 5.4 (16%), and 4.2 (10%). There were no gender differences (P >0.05) for the distribution of malocclusions, sagittal skeletal relationships, different IOFTN scores, or when IOFTN scores were re-grouped (5, 4, and ≤3). When IOFTN scores were re-grouped (5, 4, and ≤3), they were equally distributed among patients with Class II or III skeletal relationships (P >0.05), but when the authors looked at different malocclusions, there were significant differences in IOFTN score distribution (P = 0.006). The use of genioplasty (4%) or distraction osteogenesis (2%) was limited. Single jaw surgery of either maxilla or mandible was used in 15% and 22% of patients, respectively. About 63% had undergone double-jaw surgery. CONCLUSION: Retrospective assessment using IOFTN identified 95% of patients as having great and very great functional needs, but prospective studies using IOFTN is needed to assess the need for orthognathic surgery. Class III malocclusions and Class III sagittal skeletal relationships were more common in this sample.

Indirect Sinus Augmentation With and Without the Addition of a Biomaterial: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the results of indirect sinus augmentation with and without the addition of a biomaterial. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty patients aged 40 to 60 years participated in this randomized controlled clinical trial. After closed sinus lift operation, patients were randomly and equally divided into blood clot control and acemannan sponge graft groups. Simultaneous implant placement was then performed. Cone beam computed tomography was performed immediately and at 3 and 6 months postoperation. Bone formation was evaluated by the radiographic endo-sinus bone gain percentage around the implant. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the acemannan-treated group had a significantly greater radiographic endo-sinus bone gain percentage of approximately 2.4- and 2-fold at 3 and 6 months postsurgery, respectively (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The addition of a biomaterial (Acemannan) with indirect sinus augmentation and simultaneous implant placement significantly enhances bone formation at 3 and 6 months postsurgery.

Prevalence of Candida bloodstream isolates from patients in two hospitals in Vietnam.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Identification of yeasts provides helpful information for appropriate administration of anti-fungal treatments; however, few reports from the Vietnam have been published. This study has been performed to find the prevalence of Candida blood stream isolates from patients in two hospitals in Vietnam. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Candida spp. were isolated from blood cultures in two hospitals, Vietnam between May 2013 and May 2015. Participating hospitals were 103 Military Hospital, Ha Noi city (550 beds) and Cho Ray Hospital, Ho Chi Minh city (1800 beds). All the bloodstream isolates were identified to species level by the germ tube test and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). In addition, unknown isolates were subjected to PCR sequencing. RESULTS: A total of 93 Candida isolates were isolated from blood cultures during the study period. The results of this study showed that C. tropicalis (n = 47, 50.54%) was the most common agent, followed by Candida albicans/dubliniensis (n = 18, 19.35%), C. parapsilosis (n = 16, 17.20%), C. glabrata (n = 6, 6.45%), C. mesorugosa (n = 5, 5.38%) and C. krusei (n = 1, 1.08%), respectively. CONCLUSION: The frequency of the non-albicans Candida species in blood is increasing, especially C. tropicalis. Additional investigations should be made to clarify the epidemiological profile of invasive Candida bloodstream in Vietnam.

Prevalence and correlates of multimorbidity among adults in border areas of the Central Highland Region of Vietnam, 2017.

INTRODUCTION: The objectives of this study are to estimate the prevalence of multimorbidity (MM) among adults in the Central Highland Region (a poor region) of Vietnam in 2017 and to identify the sociodemographic correlates of these conditions. METHODS: We used data from a cross-sectional study conducted in 2018 on health status among people in four provinces in the Central Highlands Region (Tay Nguyen) of Vietnam. A sample of 1680 adults (aged 15 years and older) were randomly selected for this study. Respondents were asked whether they had been told by a health worker that they had cancer, heart and circulatory conditions, chronic joint problems, chronic pulmonary diseases, chronic kidney problems, chronic digestive problems, psychological illness, diabetes, and/or other chronic conditions. RESULTS: The prevalence of MM among the study participants was 16.4% (95% confidence interval (CI): 14.6%-18.2%). By looking at the 95% CIs, the differences in MM prevalence between the groups classified by gender, age, education, and occupation were not statistically significant. Only the difference in MM prevalence between farmers and government staff was statistically significant. Multivariate logistic analyses show education and occupations were shown to be significant correlates of MM. CONCLUSION: MMs were quite common among the adult populations in the study area, especially among people with lower socioeconomic status. Given the evidence, actions to reduce levels of MM in the setting are clearly urgent. The interventions should address all people in society, with focus on disadvantaged groups, like those with lower education and farmers.

A polycaprolactone-ß-tricalcium phosphate-heparan sulphate device for cranioplasty.

BACKGROUND: Cranioplasty is a surgical procedure used to treat a bone defect or deformity in the skull. To date, there is little consensus on the standard-of-care for graft materials used in such a procedure. Graft materials must have sufficient mechanical strength to protect the underlying brain as well as the ability to integrate and support new bone growth. Also, the ideal graft material should be individually customized to the contours of the defect to ensure a suitable aesthetic outcome for the patient. PURPOSE: Customized 3D-printed scaffolds comprising of polycaprolactone-ß-tricalcium phosphate (PCL-TCP) have been developed with mechanical properties suitable for cranioplasty. Osteostimulation of PCL-TCP was enhanced through the addition of a bone matrix-mimicking heparan sulphate glycosaminoglycan (HS3) with increased affinity for bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2). Efficacy of this PCL-TCP/HS3 combination device was assessed in a rat critical-sized calvarial defect model. METHOD: Critical-sized defects (5 mm) were created in both parietal bones of 19 Sprague Dawley rats (Male, 450-550 g). Each cranial defect was randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatment groups: (1) A control group consisting of PCL-TCP/Fibrin alone (n = 5); (2) PCL-TCP/Fibrin-HSft (30 µg) (n = 6) (HSft is the flow-through during HS3 isolation that has reduced affinity for BMP-2); (3) PCL-TCP/Fibrin-HS3 (5 µg) (n = 6); (4) PCL-TCP/Fibrin-HS3 (30 µg) (n = 6). Scaffold integration and bone formation was evaluated 12-weeks post implantation by µCT and histology. RESULTS: Treatment with PCL-TCP/Fibrin alone (control) resulted in 23.7% ± 1.55% (BV/TV) of the calvarial defect being filled with new bone, a result similar to treatment with PCL-TCP/Fibrin scaffolds containing either HSft or HS3 (5 µg). At increased amounts of HS3 (30 µg), enhanced bone formation was evident (BV/TV = 38.6% ± 9.38%), a result 1.6-fold higher than control. Further assessment by 2D µCT and histology confirmed the presence of enhanced bone formation and scaffold integration with surrounding host bone only when scaffolds contained sufficient bone matrix-mimicking HS3. CONCLUSION: Enhancing the biomimicry of devices using a heparan sulphate with increased affinity to BMP-2 can serve to improve the performance of PCL-TCP scaffolds and provides a suitable treatment for cranioplasty.