Objective: The development of biomaterials for secondary bone grafting to the alveolar cleft, recombinant human morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) may have great potential to promote osseous regeneration. The purpose of this study was to investigate the osteoinductive activity of low-dose rhBMP-2 (10 microg/100 microL) and the biological response of newly generated bone to orthodontic stimulation, compared with previous results using high-dose rhBMP-2 (40 microg/100 microL).
Method: After extraction of the maxillary first premolars, bone defects were surgically created in eight adult beagle dogs using a 5-mm-diameter trepan bar. The rhBMP-2 with a PLGA/gelatin sponge complex (PGS) made of gelatin and polylactic acid polyglycolic acid copolymer was immediately implanted. The osteoinductive activity of rhBMP-2 and tooth movement into the newly generated bone was evaluated based on histological and morphometric examination.
Results: Dramatic histological and morphometric differences were found in the time course of bone remodeling between low- and high-dose rhBMP-2. The onset of bone remodeling occurred significantly earlier in low-dose rhBMP-2. During experimental tooth movement, in contrast to high-dose rhBMP-2, with which root resorption occurred, only partial cementum resorption occurred on the pressure side with low-dose rhBMP-2.
Conclusion: These results indicated that the proper dosage of rhBMP-2 should be determined for successful clinical application.