Background: Barrier membranes are used to prevent downgrowth of the oral mu
cosa along the root surface and to allow alveolar bone regeneration in guid
ed tissue regeneration. Several studies have demonstrated bone regenerates
in the presence of bioabsorbable and non-resorbable membranes, but no studi
es have compared multiple bioabsorbable barriers to one another and to non-
resorbable barriers. This study evaluated the in vitro influence of bioabso
rbable and non-resorbable membranes on specific parameters of human osteobl
ast activity.
Methods: Human osteoblasts were cultured on bioabsorbable membranes made of
collagen, hyaluronic acid, and poly DL-lactide, and the most common non-re
sorbable membrane which is made of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE)
. The osteoblasts were cultured in vitro for 24 hours on barrier membranes
in the presence of H-3-thymidine and H-3-proline to study cell proliferatio
n and collagen synthesis. Transforming growth factor-pi (TGF-PI) secretion
was evaluated in conditioned media using an ELISA kit.
Results: The results showed that collagen and poly DL-lactide stimulated DN
A synthesis more than ePTFE and hyaluronic acid. All bioabsorbable membrane
s significantly increased collagen synthesis and alkaline phosphatase activ
ity. Collagen and hyaluronic acid increased secretion of TGF-beta (1), a gr
owth factor involved in bone remodeling.
Conclusions: These data suggest bioabsorbable membranes, particularly colla
gen and hyaluronic acid, may promote bone regeneration through their activi
ty on osteoblasts.