Granular osteoconductive biopolymer and predictive analysis of its physical property changes in maxillofacial surgery

TL;DR

This paper studies how a biopolymer used in jawbone surgery changes after implantation and introduces new indicators to predict and improve its performance.

Contribution

The study introduces true adsorption capacity and compaction coefficient as new prognostic indicators for osteoconductive biopolymer behavior.

Findings

Preoperative preparation methods can increase the adsorption capacity of the biopolymer by up to 25%.

Gas adsorption and imaging techniques confirm that preparation methods improve the physical properties of the biopolymer.

Using prognostic indicators helps surgeons design better bioengineered scaffolds and reduce postoperative complications.

Abstract

Dry bulk fractions of osteoconductive granular biopolymers (OGB) are a common choice for addressing jawbone defects. These, in conjunction with an insulating biological membrane, form bioengineered scaffold structures. In the recipient site, the OGB fraction undergoes biotransformation, morphing from a bulk granular fraction into a stable conglomerate. The biotransformation of the OGB fraction is a physical process initiated by the biological environment of the recipient site. This process is characterized by granule compaction due to reduced intergranular space volume, leading to an uncontrolled decrease in the planned volume of the OGB. This is one of the causes of postoperative complications.

This study aims to identify prognostic indicators that characterize the dynamics of changes in the physical property of the total volume of the OGB fraction following the addressing of a jawbone defect (in the postoperative period). To minimize these limitations, the study substantiated the use of prognostic indicators that can characterize the behavior of the entire volume of the OGB fraction within the recipient site during the postoperative period. The study presents the true adsorption capacity (ACT) and compaction coefficient (CC) of the OGB fraction. Gas adsorption, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy substantiate that preoperative preparation methods enhance the physical property of the OGB fraction. These methods include the extraction of coarse and fine industrial dust from the granule surfaces and the removal of air pockets from the granule pores.

Thus, studying OGB behavior in the recipient site justifies the use of prognostic indicators, which is clinically significant. These indicators enable the surgeon to design a 3D sculpture of the bioengineered scaffold structures, considering the changes in the physical property of the OGB fraction during the postoperative period. This approach minimizes the risks of postoperative complications caused by uncontrolled compaction of the OGB fraction. Preoperative preparation of the OGB fraction can significantly enhance its adsorption capacity, increasing it by up to 25 %.

Figures