Abstract:

Objective To investigate the biocompatibility of new bone tissue engineering scaffolds, A：D, L-polylactic acid（PDLLA）/polylactic acid-polyethylene glycol-polylactic acid-polylactic acid（PLA-PEG-PLA）/Tricalcium phosphate and B： PDLLA/PLA -PEG -PLA in vivo， compared with PDLLA in repair of a rabbit mandibular body defect. Methods 24 New Zealand adult rabbits were divided into 4 groups randomly. 15 mm×6 mm defects were made surgically in the bilateral mandibular bodies and each hemi-mandible was assigned as an experimental unit. The defects were randomly repaired with scaffold materials in each group. Specimens obtained were evaluated with general observation, X-ray, histomorphology and computerized graphical analysis at 2, 4 , 8, 12 weeks after surgery. Results Compared with PDLLA, the new scaffold materials B showed biocompatibility. At the same time the quantity of new bone produced was much more than that in control group（P<0.05）. The new scaffold materials A showed the clear chronic granulomatous inflammation. Conclusion New scaffold material B had sound biocompatibility. It was much better than PDLLA. So it may be an ideal bone tissue engineering scaffold material. A is not adapted to be used as scaffold material.

Key words: bone tissue engineering, scaffold material, mandibular defect