The effect of biocompatible carriers with vitamin D and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on bone defects

Introduction: In oral and maxillofacial surgery, hard tissue augmentation is provided by materials that accelerate the healing, act as a template for reconstructing bony defects, and stimulate bone production and growth. This study investigated the effects of biocompatible carriers containing active vitamin D and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on bone defects created in rat calvaria. Material and Methods: This experimental animal study utilized fifty-two male Sprague Dawley rats divided into six groups and conducted histopathological, microtomographic, and biochemical comparisons by adding vitamin D, which has an accelerating effect on bone development. We examined the calvarial defects, sacrificing the rats in equal numbers (eight in each group and four to obtain PRP) at the first, second, fourth, and eighth weeks. The newly formed bone was assessed using histopathologic, microtomographic, and macroscopic methods as well as the biochemical analysis performed in the plasma samples. Expression of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), vitamin D receptor (VDR), and receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B (RANK), which determine bone formation, were investigated. The amounts of ossification, bone volume, and mineral densities were significantly higher in the fourth and eighth weeks as the biocompatible material was delivered with calcitriol. Results: The histological and macroscopic examinations revealed that the defect area shrank and was colonized with new cells in the "calcitriol + chitosan + PRP" group. The expression of RANK, FGF23, and VDR antibodies was more intense in the "calcitriol + chitosan + PRP" group than in other groups of the experiment and controls. Conclusion: Active vitamin D, PRP, and chitosan formulation positively contributed to the repair of bone defects and induced remarkable clinical improvement. This new delivery approach could be promising for healing bone defects following surgical operations in hard bony tissues. HIPPOKRATIA 2023, 27 (2):48-56.