Performance of novel nanofibrous biopolymer membrane for guided bone regeneration within rat mandibular defect

A novel nanofibrous membrane of a degradable biopolymer poly (lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) (PLCL) for guided bone regeneration (GBR) was designed and its tissue compatibility and ability to promote the regeneration of new bone were investigated in a rat mandibular defect model.

The nanofibrous structuring of the PLCL polymer was facilitated by a solvent-induced phase separation method using camphene as the porogen. The PLCL membrane was implanted in a critical-sized (5 mm diameter) defect of the rat mandible.

The assessment of cell compatibility conducted using undifferentiated pre-osteoblast cells (MC3T3-E1) showed favorable cell adhesion and growth on the nanofiber PLCL membrane with an active cytoskeletal processes and increment in the cell population with culture time. In vivo results at four weeks post-operation demonstrated that the PLCL nanofibrous membrane induced better guided new bone formation than the defect control group while protecting the bone defect against the ingrowth of fibrous tissues.

Based on these results, the newly-developed PLCL nanofibrous biopolymer may be useful as a biocompatible and bone regenerative guidance membrane in dentistry.