Simvastatin loaded chitosan guided bone regeneration membranes stimulate bone healing

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Electrospun chitosan membranes (ESCM) modified with short-chain fatty acids offer controlled release of simvastatin (SMV).
• SMV possesses anti-cholesterol and osteogenic properties, making it suitable for guided bone regeneration (GBR).
• This study investigates the in vivo osteogenic effects of different SMV release profiles from modified ESCMs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the in vivo osteogenic effects of rapid (4-week) vs. sustained (8-week) simvastatin (SMV) release from modified electrospun chitosan membranes (ESCMs).
• To compare the bone formation in critical-size rat calvarial defects using acetic anhydride (AA)-modified ESCMs (rapid release) and hexanoic anhydride (HA)-modified ESCMs (sustained release).

Main Methods:

• Preparation of AA-ESCMs (10 or 50 µg SMV) and HA-ESCMs (50 µg SMV).
• Evaluation of biocompatibility and bone formation in 5 mm critical-size rat calvarial defects at 4 and 8 weeks.
• Histological evaluation and micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) analysis were employed.

Main Results:

• No significant inflammatory response was observed. AA membranes showed faster resorption than HA membranes.
• 50 µg SMV-loaded AA membranes significantly increased bone formation by week 4 but not week 8.
• 50 µg SMV-loaded HA membranes significantly enhanced bone formation by week 8, indicating a sustained release benefit.

Conclusions:

• Modified ESCMs can effectively control SMV release for GBR applications.
• Sustained SMV release from HA-modified ESCMs demonstrates superior bone regeneration potential compared to rapid release from AA-modified ESCMs.
• These findings support the use of tailored drug-eluting membranes for enhanced bone healing.