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Updated: Mar 8, 2026
Author Spotlight: Development and Evaluation of a Standardized Rat Model for Calvarial Suture-Bony Composite Defects
Published on: May 10, 2024
Poly(trimethylene carbonate)-based composite materials for reconstruction of critical-sized cranial bone defects in
Ni Zeng1, Anne C van Leeuwen2, Dirk W Grijpma3
1University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Biomedical Engineering (FB40), A. Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Purpose:
The use of ceramic materials in repair of bone defects is limited to non-load-bearing sites. We tested poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC) combined with β-tricalcium phosphate or biphasic calcium phosphate particles for reconstruction of cranial defects.
Materials And Methods:
PTMC-calcium phosphate composite matrices were implanted in cranial defects in sheep for 3 and 9 months. Micro-computed tomography quantification and histological observation were performed for analysis.
Results:
No differences were found in new bone formation among the defects left unfilled, filled with PTMC scaffolds, or filled with either kind of PTMC-calcium phosphate composite scaffolds. Porous β-TCP scaffolds as control led to a larger amount of newly formed bone in the defects than all other materials. Histology revealed abundant new bone formation in the defects filled with porous β-TCP scaffolds. New bone formation was limited in defects filled with PTMC scaffolds or different PTMC-calcium phosphate matrices. PTMC matrices were degraded uneventfully. New bone formation within the defects followed an orderly pattern.
Conclusions:
PTMC did not interfere with bone regeneration in sheep cranial defects and is suitable as a polymer matrix for incorporating calcium phosphate particles. Increasing the content of calcium phosphate particles in the composite matrices may enhance the beneficial effects of the particles on new bone formation.
