The carrier used as delivery agent for bone morphogenetic proteins(BMPs) should also act as a scaffold for new bone formation. Moreover, bone formation should be predictable in terms of the volume and shape. This study examined the osteogenic effect of macroporous biphasic calcium phosphate (MBCP) block combined with ePTFE membrane as a carrier for recombinant human bone morphogenetic proteins (rhBMP-2). In addition, the additive effect of ePTFE membrane on bone formation was evaluated.

Eight-millimeter critical sized calvarial defects were created surgically in 28 male Sprague-Dawley rats. The animals were divided into 2 groups containing 14 animals each. The defects were treated with either rhBMP-2/MBCP block (rhBMP-2/MBCP group) or rhBMP-2/MBCP block/ePTFE membrane (rhBMP-2/MBCP/ePTFE group). A disc-shaped MBCP block (3 mm height and 8 mm diameter) was used as the carrier for the rhBMP-2 and ePTFE membrane was used to cover the rhBMP-2/MBCP block. The histologic and histometric parameters were used to evaluate the defects after 2- or 8-week healing period (7 animals/group/healing interval).

The level of bone formation in the defects of both groups was significantly higher at 8 weeks than that at 2 weeks (P < 0.05). The ePTFE membrane has no additional effect compared with the rhBMP-2/MBCP block only. However, at 8 weeks, rhBMP-2/MBCP/ePTFE group showed more even bone formation on the top of the MBCP block than the rhBMP-2/MBCP group.

These results suggest that the ePTFE membrane has no additive effect on bone formation when a MBCP block is used as a carrier for rhBMP-2.