Blood vessel formation after soft-tissue implantation of hyaluronan-based hydrogel supplemented with copper ions

Biomaterials. 2005 Jun;26(16):3001-8. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2004.08.027.

Abstract

The possibility of ameliorating bone healing of implanted bone allografts is a field of great interest. Early vascular invasion is a key factor in bone allograft incorporation. It is well known that copper ions (Cu2+) show a proangiogenic action favouring the development of new vessels. In this work a hyaluronan based 50% hydrogel (Hyal-50%) was enriched with (Cu2+) and its proangiogenic activity was evaluated. Fifteen Sprague Dawley female rats were submitted to the subcutaneous implantation of Hyal-50%, freeze-dried bone allografts, Hyal-50%-Cu2+, freeze-dried bone allografts plus Hyal-50% and freeze-dried bone allografts plus Hyal-50%-Cu2+. One month later, histomorphometric analysis evidenced the presence of a fibrous-reactive capsule around all specimens showing significant differences among groups (p<0.0005). The highest thickness of the fibrous capsule was found around the freeze-dried bone implants (p<0.05); as well as the Hyal-50%-Cu2+ plus freeze-dried bone (15.2%, p<0.05) and Hyal 50% plus freeze-dried bone (21.4%, p<0.0005) implants showed a significant higher thickness compared with Hyal 50% and Hyal-50%-Cu2+. Statistical analysis showed a significant (p<0.01) higher vascular density in Hyal- 50%-Cu2+ and Hyal-50%-Cu2+ plus freeze-dried bone group when compared to other groups. The present preliminary results suggest the advantages offered by the combined use of a well-known biocompatible and tissue healing promoting material (Hyal-50%) and a new technique that consists of stimulating tissue vascularization using Cu2+ and that bone allograft incorporation may benefit from this technology.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biocompatible Materials*
  • Bone Regeneration*
  • Bone Substitutes / pharmacology*
  • Bone Transplantation
  • Bone and Bones / metabolism
  • Copper / chemistry*
  • Female
  • Hyaluronic Acid / chemistry*
  • Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate / chemistry*
  • Ions
  • Light
  • Male
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic*
  • Osseointegration
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared

Substances

  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Bone Substitutes
  • Ions
  • Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate
  • Copper
  • Hyaluronic Acid