Mandibular defect repair by TGF-beta and IGF-1 released from a biodegradable osteoconductive hydrogel

Bone regeneration is crucial in the healing of defects in the craniofacial complex. The ability of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), incorporated into a hydrogel scaffold to induce bone regeneration, was evaluated in a rat mandible defect model.

Hydrogel scaffolds containing either transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), TGF-beta+ IGF-1, or saline, were implanted in rat mandibular bone defects. In a control group the defects were treated by saline alone. Bone defect healing was tested after 3 and 6 weeks by radiology and morphology.

Soft tissue radiographs indicated that the area of new bone formation increased gradually after 3 and at 6 weeks. The percentage of closure after 3 weeks was less than the percentage closure after 6 weeks. The amount of calcified material in the TGF-beta and TGF-beta+IGF-1-treated groups had increased more than in the saline-containing hydrogel and control (saline-treated) defects. The percentages of defect closures were 37, 38, 24, 14, and 11% after 3 weeks, and 94, 91, 84, 72, and 29% after 6 weeks, in the TGF-beta+IGF-1, TGF-beta, IGF-1, saline containing hydrogel and saline-treated animals, respectively. Three-dimensional computerized tomography (3D CT) images showed that the 3D shape of the bones was restored. Morphological analysis of the defects treated with hydrogel containing TGF-beta, IGF-1 or TGF-beta+IGF-1 revealed significant bone formation after 6 weeks.

It is concluded that the hydrogel scaffold impregnated with growth factors can induce bone regeneration and is therefore a promising surgical tool for enhancement of surgical repair of bone defects.