Histomorphometric and histologic evaluation of the effects of leukocyte platelet-rich fibrin (L-PRF) and nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA) on bone regeneration in rabbits

The study aimed to assess the histologic and histomorphometric effects of leukocyte platelet-rich fibrin (L-PRF) and nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA) on the regeneration of calvarial bone defects in rabbits.

Four defects were created in the calvaria bone of 14 New Zealand rabbits and filled with L-PRF clot, nHA, or a combination of L-PRF and nHA. The fourth defect remained unfilled to serve as the control group. The rabbits were sacrificed either at 4 or at 8 weeks, and the specimens were evaluated for the type and degree of inflammation, foreign body reaction, new bone formation, and residual biomaterial particles.

The histomorphometric analysis revealed that L-PRF significantly enhanced osteogenesis (P<0.05), and the number of subsequent remnant bodies in the L-PRF group was not significantly different from the control group (P>0.05). The results of the histologic analysis showed that the frequency of central bone regeneration significantly increased in prolonged periods (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the utilized biomaterials concerning subsequent bleeding, inflammation, foreign body reaction, and lateral bone regeneration between 4 and 8 weeks of treatment (P>0.05).

The results showed that L-PRF was a suitable option for the induction of bone regeneration with fewer remnant bodies. However, future clinical studies are required to assess the efficacy of these biomaterials in the clinical setting.