Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the bone healing properties and histological environment of a u-HA/PLLA/PGA (u-HA-uncalcined and unsintered hydroxyapatite, PLLA-Poly L-lactic acid, PGA-polyglycolic acid) composite device in humans, and to understand the histological dynamics of using this device for maxillofacial treatments. Twenty-one subjects underwent pre-implant maxillary alveolar ridge augmentation with mandibular cortical bone blocks using u-HA/PLLA or u-HA/PLLA/PGA screws for fixation. Six months later, specimens of these screws and their adjacent tissue were retrieved. A histological and immunohistochemical evaluation of these samples was performed using collagen 1a, ALP (alkaline phosphatase), and osteocalcin. We observed that alveolar bone augmentation was successful for all of the subjects. Upon histological evaluation, the u-HA/PLLA screws had merged with the bone components, and the bone was directly connected to the biomaterial. In contrast, direct bone connection was not observed for the u-HA/PLLA/PGA screw. Immunohistological findings showed that in the u-HA/PLLA group, collagen 1a was positive for fibers that penetrated vertically into the bone. Alkaline phosphatase was positive only in the u-HA/PLLA stroma, and the stroma was negative for osteocalcin. In this study, u-HA/PLLA showed a greater bioactive bone conductivity than u-HA/PLLA/PGA and a higher biocompatibility for direct bone attachment. Furthermore, u-HA/PLLA was shown to have the potential for bone formation in the stroma.