Can phosphatidylcholine increase the efficacy of bioactive glass graft when used as a carrier? an experimental study

Abstract

Aim: Bioactive glass (Bioglass) is a substance causing strong mechanical bondings at the interface of soft tissue-biomaterial-bone through a series of biochemical and biophysical reactions, commonly used to restore developing bone defects due to surgery. On the other hand, phosphatidylcholine is a lipid substance increasing antibiotics’ efficiency as a carrier. Since we met no study using the combination of Bioglass and phosphatidylcholine for bone defects, we aimed to investigate whether the bioglass-phosphatidylcholine combination would be more effective. Material and Method: Thirty Sprague-Dawley 3-6-months-old female rats with a mean weight of 400 gr were divided into five subgroups (six in each group). A 5-mm critical defect was created in the middle of the condyle throughout the burr’s diameter bilaterally. The phosphatidylcholine-bioglass graft was placed at one side, and Bioglass contralaterally to fill the defect. The rats were sacrificed at 24 hours, 72 hours, first, third, and sixth weeks postoperatively. The right and left rat femurs were removed and examined histopathologically. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the groups regarding filling volume, newly formed and necrotic bone, fibrous tissue, residual graft material, integration, foreign body reaction, and defect organization, indicating that Bioglass served efficiently for filling the defect. In addition, phosphatidylcholine neither augmented nor impaired the healing process. Conclusion: These results indicated that Bioglass served efficiently for filling the defect, and the presence of phosphatidylcholine neither augmented nor impaired the healing process. However, further experimental studies are required until its clinical application is implemented.