Research

Calcium Sulfate and Platelet-Rich Plasma make a novel osteoinductive biomaterial for bone regeneration

Giuseppe Intini^1,2 , Sebastiano Andreana^4,5 , Francesco E Intini³ , Robert J Buhite^2,4,5 and Libuse A Bobek¹

¹  Department of Oral Biology, University at Buffalo – 109 Foster Hall, 3435 Main Street, Buffalo, NY, 14214, USA

²  Department of Periodontics and Endodontics, University at Buffalo – 250 Squire Hall, 3435 Main Street, Buffalo, NY, 14214, USA

³  Private Practice – Via Napoli 5/B, 70015 Noci (BA), Italy

⁴  Department of Restorative Dentistry, University at Buffalo – 215 Squire Hall, 3435 Main Street, Buffalo, NY, 14214, USA

⁵  Department of Oral Maxillo-Facial Surgery, University at Buffalo – 112 Squire Hall, 3435 Main Street, Buffalo, NY, 14214, USA

author email corresponding author email

Journal of Translational Medicine 2007, 5:13doi:10.1186/1479-5876-5-13

Published:	7 March 2007

Abstract

Background

With the present study we introduce a novel and simple biomaterial able to induce regeneration of bone. We theorized that nourishing a bone defect with calcium and with a large amount of activated platelets may initiate a series of biological processes that culminate in bone regeneration. Thus, we engineered CS-Platelet, a biomaterial based on the combination of Calcium Sulfate and Platelet-Rich Plasma in which Calcium Sulfate also acts as an activator of the platelets, therefore avoiding the need to activate the platelets with an agonist.

Methods

First, we tested CS-Platelet in heterotopic (muscle) and orthotopic (bone) bone regeneration bioassays. We then utilized CS-Platelet in a variety of dental and craniofacial clinical cases, where regeneration of bone was needed.

Results

The heterotopic bioassay showed formation of bone within the muscular tissue at the site of the implantation of CS-Platelet. Results of a quantitative orthotopic bioassay based on the rat calvaria critical size defect showed that only CS-Platelet and recombinant human BMP2 were able to induce a significant regeneration of bone. A non-human primate orthotopic bioassay also showed that CS-Platelet is completely resorbable. In all human clinical cases where CS-Platelet was used, a complete bone repair was achieved.

Conclusion

This study showed that CS-Platelet is a novel biomaterial able to induce formation of bone in heterotopic and orthotopic sites, in orthotopic critical size bone defects, and in various clinical situations. The discovery of CS-Platelet may represent a cost-effective breakthrough in bone regenerative therapy and an alternative or an adjuvant to the current treatments.