Title: The properties of inducible membranes in animals and humans

Authors: Monique Bethel; Susan McDowell; Brahmananda Chitteti; Ying-Hua Cheng; Brian H. Mullis; Janos P. Ertl; Tien-Min G. Chu; Melissa A. Kacena; Jeffrey O. Anglen

Addresses: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, USA ' Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, USA ' Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, USA ' Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, USA ' Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, USA ' Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, USA ' Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, USA; Department of Restorative Dentistry, Indiana University School of Dentistry, USA ' Departments of Orthopedic Surgery, Indiana University, USA; Anatomy and Cell Biology, Indiana University, USA; Biomedical Engineering, Indiana University, USA ' Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, USA

Abstract: Membranes form around spacers used in large bone defects. We studied the effect of the spacer material on the ability of the membrane to promote osteogenesis in an animal model and the gene expression patterns of membranes obtained from humans. Critical-sized osseous defects were created in the ulnae of 12 rabbits. Stainless steel (SS) or polymethymethacrylate (PMMA) spacers were inserted into the defects, and the animals healed for four or eight weeks. After sacrifice, samples of the membrane were grown in cell culture. Human membrane samples were collected for gene expression analyses. Cultures of rabbit membranes with bone marrow cells showed significantly greater alkaline phosphatase activity (PMMA) and mineral deposition (SS) than bone marrow cells alone. All membranes had elevated expression of osteoblast-related genes. Inducible membranes around orthopaedic implants likely contain active cells of the OB lineage and the spacer material may influence the healing properties of the membrane.

Keywords: segmental bone defects; Masquelet membrane; bone healing; animal model.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMEI.2017.085045

International Journal of Medical Engineering and Informatics, 2017 Vol.9 No.3, pp.189 - 200

Received: 03 Sep 2015
Accepted: 10 May 2016

Published online: 10 Jul 2017 *

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