Optimizing human demineralized bone matrix for clinical application

The use of human demineralized bone matrix (DBM) powder in periodontal and orthopedic applications is limited by the variability in the osteoinductive or osteoconductive properties of the material. The goal of the present stu dy was to establish simple in vitro and in vivo assays of DBM that would al low us to screen different lots of the material prior to testing in more ri gorous animal models, The results demonstrate a wide variability in the per formance of individual lots of DBM powder obtained from a single tissue ban k. The studies also demonstrate that relatively simple screening can be use d to establish the quality of the different lots, and that performance and ease of handling can be improved by using relatively small particle sizes d elivered in a fibrin sealant matrix.