OSTEOCONDUCTIVE PROPERTIES OF METHYLPYRROLIDINONE CHITOSAN IN AN ANIMAL-MODEL

Bone defects were surgically produced in the tibiae of rabbits and med icated with freeze-dried methylpyrrolidinone chitosan. Histological ob servations 60d after surgery showed a considerable presence of neoform ed bone tissue, as opposed to controls, originating from the pre-exist ing bone as well as from the periosteum. The cationic nature and the c helating ability of the methylpyrrolidinone, chitosan apparently favou red mineralization. Endosteal-periosteal and bone marrow osteoblast-li ke precursors, stimulated by growth factors entrapped in the coagulum- polysaccharide mixture, gave rise to intramembranous bone formation. T he ultrastructural examination evidenced that bone osteoid was followe d by mineralization of the tissue.