Guided Bone Regeneration Using Autologous Plasma, Bone Marrow Cells and β-TCP/HA Granules for Experimental Alveolar Ridge Reconstruction in Macaca fascicularis

Alveolar bone loss is a common problem involving all age groups. The purpose of this study was to regenerate the alveolar bone via tissue engineering technique using autologous bone marrow-derived stem cells (BMSCs). Autologous BMSCs were mixed with fibrin and seeded onto beta-tricalcium phosphate and hydroxyapatite (beta-TCP/HA) granules to induce bone formation and alveolar ridge restoration in an animal model, Macaca fascicularis. BMSCs were aspirated from the femur and cultured in alpha-minimal essential medium (alpha-MEM) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) and 5% autologous serum. Approximately 3 x 10(7) cells were suspended in fibrin before seeding onto beta-TCP/HA granules and incubated for 24 hours for cell attachment. A defect area, measuring 1 cm x 1 cm x 0.7 cm was created in both test and control animals. Cell-seeded beta-TCP/HA granule were implanted into the defect area in test animals (n = 6) and the defect was left to heal without any intervention in the controls (n = 4), After 12 weeks, the animals were sacrificed. Scanning electron microscopic evaluation of the alveolar ridge demonstrated the presence of collagen matrix and osteoblast-like cells in the defect area indicating new bone formation. Micro computerized tomography (micro-CT scan) analysis confirmed the presence of dense bone tissues around the beta-TCP/HA granules. The alveolar bone measurement showed a significant increment of the bone height from 2.75+/-0.52 mm to 8.00+/-0.36 mm with p < 0.05. Histological section stained with hematoxylin and eosin showed good integration between new and native bone. BMSCs seeded beta-TCP/HA is an option to increase alveolar ridge height and width shown in a Macaca fascicularis model.