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Updated: Apr 29, 2026
Calvarial Model of Bone Augmentation in Rabbit for Assessment of Bone Growth and Neovascularization in Bone Substitution Materials
Published on: August 13, 2019
Bone neo-formation and mineral degradation of 4Bone.(®) Part I: material characterization and SEM study in critical
José E Maté Sánchez de Val1, José Luis Calvo Guirado1, Rafael A Delgado Ruiz2
1Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
Objective:
This study reports the characterization process and in vivo application of a new high-porosity biphasic calcium phosphate (4Bone(®) - HA 60%/β-TCP 40%) inserted into the critical size defect of a rabbit tibiae.
Material And Methods:
Two critical size defects of 6 mm diameter were created in each tibia of 15 New Zealand rabbits, and a total of 60 defects were divided into a test group filled with 4Bone(®) (n = 30) and a control group (n = 30). The material and the implants were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) fitted with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX).
Results:
The biomaterial's grain size decreased progressively with the graft integration process over the 60-day study period. Element analysis revealed increased percentages of Ca/P (2.86 ± 0.32 vs. 1.97 ± 0.59) in new bone and at the interface (P < 0.05). Element mapping showed that Ca and P were concentrated in the medullary and cortical zones in the test group but were concentrated only in cortical zones in the control group.
Conclusions:
Critical size defects in a rabbit tibia model can be sealed using this highly porous biphasic calcium phosphate; it supports new bone formation, creates a bridge between defect borders, and facilitates bone in growth.
