Journal of Translational Regenerative Medicine
"Translating Regeneration into Life"

Rabbit Calvarial Bone Regeneration With Calcium Sulfate, Calcium Phosphate, and Zinc-containing Calcium Phosphate Cements

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Saeed Hesaraki 1
Fatemeh Omidi 2
Davood Sharifi 2
Javad Ashrafi-Helan 3
Ehsan Fallah 4
Afshin Taheriazam 5

1 Department of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, Materials and Energy Research Center, Karaj, Iran.

2 Department of Clinical Sciences, Surgery and Radiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

3 Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.

4 Department of Orthopedic Surgery, School of Medicine, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

5 Department of Orthopedic Surgery, TeMS.C. Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

https://doi.org/10.32598/JTRM.1.1020
Abstract
Background: Repairing critical-sized calvarial bone defects remains a clinical challenge. Calcium phosphate cement (CPC) is a widely used scaffold, but its properties can be optimized through structural modifications and ionic enrichment. This study aimed to compare the regenerative efficacy of calcium sulfate cement (CSC), macroporous CPC, and zinc sulfate (ZnSO₄)-modified macroporous CPC (Zn-CPC) in rabbit calvarial bone regeneration.
Methods: Full-thickness circular defects (10 mm in diameter) were created in the calvaria of 48 adult male New Zealand white rabbits. The Zn-CPC was prepared by incorporating 10 wt% ZnSO₄ into the CPC powder. Animals were evaluated at 1, 2, and 3 months post-surgery. Characterization included setting time and compressive strength tests. Bone regeneration was quantified via histomorphometry to calculate trabecular bone volume (BV) fraction.
Results: In-vitro study showed that the use of Zn-CPC reduced the setting time from 12 to 7 minutes and significantly increased compressive strength from about 8 MPa to about 14 MPa. Histological analysis revealed that Zn-CPC supported enhanced osteogenesis compared to CSC and CPC samples. Quantitative histomorphometry demonstrated a progressive increase in new bone formation over the three-month period, with the Zn-CPC group showing the highest trabecular BV fraction and superior integration with the host bone.
Conclusion: The incorporation of ZnSO₄ into macroporous CPC not only improves its mechanical properties and setting time, but also significantly enhances its biological performance in vivo. Zn-CPC is a promising candidate for the regeneration of complex craniofacial bone defects.

Keywords

Bone cement
Calcium phosphate
Calcium sulfate
Zinc
Calvarial regeneration

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