Properties of Calcium Phosphate/Hydrogel Bone Grafting Composite on the Model of Diaphyseal Rat Femur’s Defect: Experimental Study

Background. The problem of bone defects replacement is relevant nowadays, that is why many scientists create new synthetic bone substitutes, but the ideal material has not been found so far. The aims of the study: 1) to determine the suitability of the monocortical defect model in the rat femur diaphysis with additional prophylactic reinforcement with a bone plate for assessing the biological properties of implanted materials using the commercially available ChronOS material as an example; 2) to assess of the osteoconductive properties of composite materials based on poly(ethylene glycol)diacrylate and octacalcium phosphate with architecture Kelvin and gyroid types on the developed model. Methods. A prospective study, level of evidence II. A monocortical defect of the rat femoral diaphysis (length 7 mm) was produced under anaesthesia in aseptic conditions and fixed with a polyetheretherketone plate and six titanium screws. In the control group, the defect was left empty. In other groups, blocks of one of three materials were implanted сhronOS and composites of poly(ethylene glycol)diacrylate and octacalcium phosphate with 3D-printed Kelvin and gyroid architectures. After 3 and 6 weeks, the rats were sacrificed, and histological examination of the defect zone was performed. The amount of newly formed bone tissue was histometricly assessed, followed by statistical processing of the results. Results. All rats have reached the planned endpoint, and there were no infectious complications or loss of fixation. Histological examination of the defect zone revealed minimal bone growth in the Control group, rather slow bone formation in the Gyroid group, and statistically significantly more pronounced bone formation in the pores of the materials in the Kelvin and Chronos groups. Conclusions. Bone defect in this model was not spontaneously filled with bone tissue and allowed us to study the biological properties of bone substitutes (the ability to biodegrade and osteoconductive properties). The osteoconductive properties of a composite material based on poly(ethylene glycol)diacrylate and octacalcium phosphate with a Kelvin architecture are higher than with a gyroid architecture and are comparable to that of the сhronOS.