Bone formation using β-tricalcium phosphate/carboxymethyl-chitin composite scaffold in rat calvarial defects

Objective The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of β-tricalcium phosphate/carboxymethyl-chitin material (β-TCP/CM-chitin) on bone formation in rat calvarial defects. Study Design Eighteen animals surgically received 2 calvarial defects (5 mm) bilaterally in each parietal bone. β-TCP/CM-chitin was implanted in one side of each defect, and the contralateral side of the defect was left empty as a control. The animals were humanely killed at 4, 8, and 12 weeks after surgery for histologic evaluation. Results New bone formation in the β-TCP/CM-chitin group was significantly greater than that in the control group throughout the healing periods ( P Conclusions These results indicate that β-TCP/CM-chitin is useful as a scaffold for bone formation.