The role of rhFGF-2 soaked polymer membrane for enhancement of guided bone regeneration.

The purposes of this study are to confirm the role of Fibroblast Growth Factor-2 (FGF-2) in bone regeneration by adding various concentrations of FGF-2 to the collagen membrane and applying it to the Biphasic Calcium Phosphate (BCP) bone graft site for guided bone regeneration, to explore the potential of collagen membrane as FGF-2 carrier, and to determine the optimum FGF concentration for enhancement of bone regeneration. Four bone defects of 8 mm in diameter were created in 18 New Zealand rabbit calvaria. After BCP bone graft, graft material was covered with collagen membranes adding various concentration of FGF-2. The concentration of FGF-2 was set at 1.0, 0.5, 0.1 mg/ml, and same amount of saline was used in the control group. To confirm the bone regeneration over time, six New Zealand rabbits were sacrificed each at 2, 4, and 12 weeks, and the amounts of new bone and residual bone graft material were analyzed by histologic and histomorphometric analysis. Qualitative analyses are also conducted through immunohistochemistry, Tetrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) stain and Russell-Movat pentachrome stain. As the healing period increased, the formation of new bone increased and the amount of residual graft material decreased in all experimental groups. Immunohistochemistry, TRAP staining and pentachrome staining further showed that the addition of FGF-2 promoted bone regeneration in all experimental groups. It was also confirmed that polymer collagen membrane can be used as a useful carrier of FGF-2 when enhanced early stage of new bone formation is required.