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Updated: Apr 6, 2026

Calvarial Model of Bone Augmentation in Rabbit for Assessment of Bone Growth and Neovascularization in Bone Substitution Materials
Published on: August 13, 2019
Comparison of bone morphogenetic protein-2 delivery systems to induce supracrestal bone guided by titanium implants
Bo Wen1, Liisa Kuhn2, Lyndon Charles2
1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Division of Implant Dentistry, Affiliated Stomatology Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
Objective:
To compare the ability of three non-glycosylated/rhBMP-2 (BMP-2) delivery systems to induce supracrestal bone.
Material And Methods:
Thirty-six custom SLActive dental implants were partially embedded in transverse orientation into the posterior mandibles of 18 adult rabbits with the head of the implant located 3 mm supracrestal. Delivery of BMP-2 (30 μg) from the following materials was studied: (1) Ti implant + BMP-2 with hydroxyapatite (HA)-coated collagen (Col/HA) scaffold, (2) Ti implant with Col/HA infused with PEG hydrogel + BMP-2, or (3) Ti implant with HA/β-TCP/PEG hydrogel scaffold + BMP-2. Scaffolds were secured with a metal "umbrella." Non-BMP-2 contralateral controls were included. MicroCT imaging and histological analysis was performed after 10 weeks to assess new supracrestal bone formation. In vitro BMP-2 release studies were conducted.
Results:
All treatment groups displayed new supracrestal bone formation. Ti + BMP-2 with Col/HA (3.0 ± 0.2 mm) and Ti with Col/HA/PEG hydrogel + BMP-2 (2.7 ± 0.4 mm) had significantly greater (P < 0.05) outcomes than without BMP-2. Maximum bone volume occurred in the Ti implant with HA/β-TCP/PEG hydrogel scaffold + BMP-2 group.
Conclusions:
The use of an implant system composed of a partially inserted Ti implant, adjacent scaffold and scaffold stabilizer resulted in the formation of new supracrestal bone across all test groups with and without BMP-2. Delivery of BMP-2 directly from the Ti implant increased bone height, BIC and bone volume as compared to no BMP-2 when a Col/HA was used, but did not improve performance of the HA/β-TCP/PEG scaffold.

