β-Tricalcium phosphate silica aerogel as an alternative bioactive ceramic for the potential use in dentistry

In this study, a mesoporous silica aerogel with β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP-AE) was manufactured. The effect of β-TCP-AE on gene expressions (BMP2, BMP7, Runx2 and OSX) of SAOS-2 cells was tested. For the in vivo evaluation, the ‘calvaria critical-size defect’ model was used: following 1 and 3 months of the artificial surgical bone defects filled with β-TCP-AE, histopathological analyses were performed. Gene expression studies demonstrated a mild osteoblastic differentiation of the SAOS-2 cells triggered after seven days of β-TCP-AE treatment. Digital histology of rat’s calvarial bone defects reconstructed with β-TCP-AE showed that after 1 month, calcifications and early ossifications developed with the presence of capillary-rich fibrous inflammation and remnants of exogenous compounds which nearly disappeared by the third month, and replaced with multiple newly formed bone islets mediated by osteoblasts. Based on our results, this bioceramic compound appears to have favourable properties for the use as a scaffold in the reconstructive medical practice.