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Published on: September 11, 2015
Biomimetic, self-healing occlusive hydrogel membranes for effective guided bone regeneration
Youngjoon Kim1, Haejin Bae2, Hyun Ho Shin3
1Department of Oral Physiology, School of Dentistry and Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul 110-749, the Republic of Korea.
Introduction:
Conventional guided bone regeneration (GBR) membranes have several limitations, including insufficient tissue adhesion, limited mechanical stability, and poor adaptability to irregular defect geometries. Polysaccharide-based biomaterials play a significant role in dental care owing to their biological activity, biocompatibility, and biodegradability that can be applicable as GBR membranes.
Objectives:
In this study, we developed a self-healing hydrogel-type occlusive membrane, termed HAPPHy hydrogel, composed of nano-hydroxyapatite, polyvinyl alcohol, and phenylboronic acid‑conjugated hyaluronic acid for guided bone regeneration.
Methods:
To investigate the viscoelastic properties with self-healing and injectable properties of the hydrogels, rheological studies were performed. The tissue adhesiveness of hydrogels was measured using a modified lap shear test. Osteoblast induction by the hydrogels was evaluated using human umbilical cord-derived stem cells. Bone regeneration by the occlusive hydrogel membranes was assessed in calvarial defect models.
Results:
The hydrogel exhibits mechanical properties comparable to those of natural gingival tissue, minimizing the stiffness mismatch and risk of wound dehiscence. In vitro studies showed favorable biocompatibility, osteoadhesion, sustained structural stability under repeated mechanical stress, and fibroblast-excluding capacity. In addition, HAPPHy hydrogels maintained defect coverage and were associated with improved bone regeneration in a mouse calvarial defect model.
Conclusion:
HAPPHy hydrogels showed favorable physicochemical, mechanical, and biological performance and may represent potential candidates for further investigation as an occlusive membrane for guided bone regeneration.
