Impact of biomaterial microtopography on bone regeneration: comparison of three hydroxyapatites

Aims: The primary objective of this study was to compare the in vivo performance, namely in terms of quantity of newly formed bone and bone-to-material contact (osteoconductivity), of three hydroxyapatite-based biomaterials (HA) of different origins (natural or synthetic) or manufacturing process in a sinus lift model in rabbits. The secondary objective was to correlate the findings with the physical and topographical characteristics of the biomaterials.
Materials and Methods: Two bovine HA manufactured with different processes (bovine hydroxyapatites [BHA] and cuttlebone hydroxyapatite [CBHA]) and a synthetic hydroxyapatite (SHA) sintered at high temperature were characterised with scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and the measurement of specific surface area (BET). The materials were implanted in a sinus lift model in rabbits; histological and histomorphometric evaluation using non-decalcified sections was performed at 1, 5 and 12 weeks after implantation.
Results: The studied biomaterials displayed a different surface topography. The two natural HA displayed significantly higher bone quantities (P = 0.0017; BHA vs. SHA, P = 0.0018 and CBHA vs. SHA, P = 0.033) at 5 and 12 weeks compared to the synthetic one (SHA). Moreover, the osteoconductivity (bone-to-material contact) was significantly higher in the BHA group compared to the two other groups (P = 0.014; BHA vs. SHA, P = 0.023 and BHA vs. CBHA, P = 0.033). Conclusion: HA-based biomaterials from diverse origins and manufacturing processes displayed different topographical characteristics. This may have influenced different regenerated bone architecture observed; more bone was found with natural HA compared to the synthetic one, and significantly higher bone-to-material contacts were found with BHA.