The effect of bone marrow-derived stem cells associated with platelet-rich plasma on the osseointegration of immediately placed implants

Background Stem cells associated with growth factors have been shown to improve bone healing and the osseointegration of dental implants. A Brazilian miniature pig model was used to evaluate the effect of autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) associated with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on the osseointegration of immediately placed dental implants. Material and Methods A total of four male adult miniature pigs were used in this study. BM-MSCs from each pig were isolated from the iliac crest and expanded in vitro. The undifferentiated BM-MSCs were mixed with autologous PRP and implanted in the post-extraction sockets at the experimental sites before implant placement (10 x 106 cells/ socket). The control sites did not receive either BM-MSC or PRP. Each animal received four implants in the control side and 04 on the experimental side, totalizing 32 implants. The specimens were analyzed radiographically and histomorphometrically to determine the implant loss rate (ILR), the bone-implant contact (BIC), and bone density within the threads (BDWT). Results The ILR, the BIC, and the BDWT for the control and experimental sites were respectively 25.0% and 18.7% (p=0.686); 39.0% and 27.7% (p=0.110); 46.8% and 36.5% (p=0.247). Conclusions The use of BM-MSCs + PRP in conjunction with immediately placed implants showed a lower ILR but there was no significant effect on the osseointegration of the dental implants. More preclinical studies, in large animal models, are needed to establish whether BM-MSCs associated with PRP could be used for the enhancement of the osseointegration of dental implants. Key words:Osseointegration, bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells, platelet-rich plasma, dental implants, minipigs.