An evaluation of hydroxyapatite and biphasic calcium phosphate in combination with Pluronic F127 and BMP on bone repair.

Calcium phosphates like hydroxyapatite (HA), beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP), and their mixtures (biphasic calcium phosphates; BCP) are used clinically to repair bone defects. These materials can be difficult to handle and have no inherent biological activity. Handling properties of other bone substitute materials have been improved by combining them with an inert carrier such as Pluronic F-127 (Pluronic, BASF, Mt. Olive, NJ), while the addition of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP) with such implants has also been shown to enhance bone repair. This study assessed the impact of adding Pluronic and BMPs to an HA (C-Graft) or a BCP (80/20 HA/beta-TCP ratio; Algisorb) implant's ability of promote bony repair in the rabbit calvarial defect model.Twenty-five New Zealand white rabbits were divided into 5 groups of 5 animals each. Bilateral calvarial defects were made in the parietal bones of each animal. HA or BCP alone or combined with Pluronic and/or BMP were implanted into the defect sites. Animals were euthanized at 6 weeks, postoperatively. Bone regeneration was evaluated quantitatively by histomorphometry. The amount of bone regeneration, which occurred in defects containing HA and BCP, was similar over the time period studied. Incorporating Pluronic increased handling and moldability without compromising osteoconductivity of either calcium phosphate. The addition of BMP significantly increased the amount of new bone formed with all calcium phosphates studied (P < 0.05). These results suggest that Pluronic can be added to calcium phosphates to enhance handling and moldability without any negative effects on their biocompatibility and that healing can be enhanced with the incorporation of BMPs.