Co-delivery of rhBMP-2 and zoledronic acid using calcium sulfate/hydroxyapatite carrier as a bioactive bone substitute to enhance and accelerate spinal fusion

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Abstract

Recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) has been FDA-approved for lumbar fusion, but supraphysiologic initial burst release due to suboptimal carrier and late excess bone resorption caused by osteoclast activation have limited its clinical usage. One strategy to mitigate the pro-osteoclast side effect of rhBMP-2 is to give systemic bisphosphonates, but it presents challenges with systemic side effects and low local bioavailability. The aim of this in vivo study was to analyze if posterolateral spinal fusion (PLF) could be improved by utilizing a calcium sulfate/hydroxyapatite (CaS/HA) carrier co-delivering rhBMP-2 and zoledronic acid (ZA). Six groups were allocated (CaS/HA, CaS/HA + BMP-2, CaS/HA + systemic ZA, CaS/HA + local ZA, CaS/HA + BMP-2 + systemic ZA, and CaS/HA + BMP-2 + local ZA). 10-week-old male Wistar rats, were randomly assigned to undergo L4-L5 PLF with implantation of group-dependent scaffolds. At 3 and 6 weeks, the animals were euthanized for radiography, μCT, histological staining, or biomechanical testing to evaluate spinal fusion. The results demonstrated that the CaS/HA biomaterial alone or in combination with local or systemic ZA didn't support PLF. However, the delivery of rhBMP-2 significantly promoted PLF. Combining systemic ZA with BMP-2 didn't enhance spinal fusion. Notably, the co-delivery of rhBMP-2 and ZA using the CaS/HA carrier significantly enhanced and accelerated PLF, without inhibiting systemic bone turnover, and potentially reduced the dose of rhBMP-2. Together, the treatment regimen of CaS/HA biomaterial co-delivering rhBMP-2 and ZA could potentially be a safe and cost-effective off-the-shelf bioactive bone substitute to enhance spinal fusion.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)256-271
Number of pages16
JournalBioactive Materials
Volume36
Early online date6 Mar 2024
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2024
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

ORCID /0000-0003-2834-8933/work/155290995
ORCID /0000-0002-8854-7726/work/155291720
WOS 001189038600001
PubMed 38487704

Keywords

Keywords

  • Bisphosphonate, Bone morphogenetic protein 2, Bone substitute, Calcium sulfate/hydroxyapatite, Spinal fusion