Endocultivation: continuous application of rhBMP-2 via mini-osmotic pumps to induce bone formation at extraskeletal sites

The continuous presence of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (rhBMP-2) inside a scaffold may be crucial to the outcome in bone tissue engineering. This study investigated whether the release of the growth factor rhBMP-2 via different continuous application schemes influences histomorphological aspects of the hard and soft tissues induced. Three-dimensionally printed hydroxyapatite scaffolds were implanted into one latissimus dorsi muscle of 42 female Lewis rats. Simultaneously implanted mini-osmotic pumps were used to provide a continuous application of rhBMP-2 over 1, 2, or 4 weeks (total dose 200μg).

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