Application of β-1,3-glucan in production of ceramics-based elastic composite for bone repair

Background: Unsatisfactory surgical handiness is a commonly known disadvantage of implantable granular bioceramics. To overcome this problem, beta-1,3-glucan, biotechnologically derived polysaccharide, has been proposed as a joining agent to combine granular ceramics into novel compact and elastic composite. Hydroxyapatite/glucan elastic material was processed and evaluated as a potential bone void filler. The procedure of composite formation was based on gelling properties of glucan. Its properties were studied using X-ray microtomography, SEM-EDS, FTIR spectroscopy, compression test and ultrasonic method. Sorption index was determined in phosphate buffered saline; bioactivity in simulated body fluid; sterility in growth broth and human blood plasma; implantation procedure in dog model. HAp/glucan composite is sterilizable, flexible and self-adapting to defect shape. It exhibits bioactivity, good surgical handiness, high sorption index and profitable mechanical properties, resembling those of spongy bone. Results of pilot clinical experiment on animal (dog) patients of a local clinic of animal surgery suggested good healing properties of the composite and its transformation into new bone tissue within critical-size defect. The results obtained in this study confirm that flexible HAp/glucan composite has potential as a bone-substituting material. Promising results of pilot clinical experiment suggest that further in vivo experiments should be performed.