Ultrasonographic evaluation of Effect of Zeolite and Zeolite/Collagen nanocomposite scaffolds on healing of femurbone defect in rabbits

Nowadays, nanocomposite biomaterials are used to reduce bone repair complications because of tissue adaptation, good resistance and lack of cytotoxicity.The current research was done to study the effects of zeolite/collagen nanocomposite bone scaffold on healing process of experimental defect in rabbit femur using ultrasonographic examination. Twenty-eight mature male New Zealand white rabbits after injecting general anesthesia and topical preparation underwent surgery then with a low speed orthopedic drill, a 5-6 mm defect created in the proximal femur.they classified into 4 groups of 7 animals each. In the first group the defect was made and with no treatment the defect was closed. In the second group the nanohydroxyapatite was implanted into the defect. In the third group the nanocomposite of zeolite/collagen was implanted and in the 4th group the defect was filled using autograft.. Finally they were closed with sutures & ultrasonographic examination was done on days 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 postoperatively. No angiogenesis was observed on day 0 and the highest angiogenesis rate on day 7 was related to the zeolite/collagen nanocomposite group. The highest angiogenesis rate on day 15 is related to nano-hydroxyapatite & zeolite/collagen nanocomposite and on day 30 is related to the zeolite/collagen nanocomposite. The highest angiogenesis rate on day 45 is related to the zeolite/collagen nanocomposite and on day 60 is related to the zeolite/collagen nanocomposite group that the efficacy of the collagen zeolite nanocomposite group over other groups was demonstrated in our study. Amounts of bone filling and angiogenesis in rabbits treated with zeolite/collagen nanocomposite were higher than other tested groups. Zeolite/collagen nanocomposite scaffold bear a crucial capability in the reconstruction of bone defects and could be used as scaffold in bone fractures.