Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 11, 2025

Establishment of a Segmental Femoral Critical-size Defect Model in Mice Stabilized by Plate Osteosynthesis
Published on: October 12, 2016
Acceleration of bone formation using in situ-formed hyaluronan-hydrogel containing bone morphogenetic protein-2 in a
Shintaro Shoji1, Kentaro Uchida1,2, Ryo Tazawa1
1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan.
Background:
An enzymatic crosslinking strategy using hydrogen peroxide and horseradish peroxidase is receiving increasing attention for application with in situ-formed hydrogels (IFHGs). IFHGs may also be ideal carrier materials for bone repair, although their ability to carry bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP2) has yet to be examined.
Objective:
We examined the effectiveness of an IFHG made of hyaluronan (IFHG-HA) containing BMP2 for promoting bone formation in a mouse critical size bone defect model.
Methods:
C57/BL6J mice received a 2-mm femoral critical-sized bone defect before being randomly assigned to one of the following treatment groups (n = 6): control (no treatment), IFHG-HA only, PBS with BMP2, and IFHG-HA with BMP2. X-ray radiographs were utilized to track new bone formation, and micro-computed tomography and histological examination were performed on new bone formed at the bone defect site two weeks after surgery.
Results:
Mice treated with PBS with BMP2 and IFHG-HA with BMP2 had greater bone volume (BV) and bone mineral content (BMC) than those receiving control, and successfully achieved consolidation. Mice treated with IFHG-HA with BMP2 had significantly higher BV and BMC than those treated with PBS with BMP2.
Conclusions:
IFHG-HA may be an effective carrier for BMP2 to enable delivery for bone defect repair.

