Objective: To investigate the repairing ability of nano-hydroxyapatite/recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (Nano-HA/rhBMP-2) composite artificial bone for bone defect and to provide evidence for its application in clinical repair of bone defect.
Methods: The animal model of bone defect was made on unilateral radius of 90 New Zealand white rabbits, which were randomly divided into experimental group (group A, bone defect was repaired with Nano-HA/rhBMP-2 composite artificial bone), control group (group B, bone defect was repaired with Nano-HA artificial bone), and blank group (group C, bone defect was unrepaired). The repairing ability for bone defect was evaluated by gross observation, X-ray examination, scanning electron microscope, radionuclide bone imaging and biomechanical analysis at 4(th), 8(th), and 12th week postoperatively.
Results: Both Nano-HA/rhBMP-2 composite artificial bone and Nano-HA artificial bone could stimulate new bone formation, but the former could stimulate more new bone formation and had better repairing ability for bone defect than that of the latter, with statistically significant difference (P <0.05).
Conclusion: Nano-HA/rhBMP-2 composite artificial bone has good repairing ability for bone defect and it is hopeful to become an ideal repairing material for bone defect.