INSAURRALDE, Elizeu et al. Tensile strength and elastic modulus of rat calvaria grafted with different biomaterials. RGO, Rev. gaúch. odontol. (Online) []. 2010, 58, 3, pp. 375-380. ISSN 1981-8637.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the tensile strength and the elastic modulus of newly formed bone after grafting with two biomaterials: inorganic bovine bone and castor bean polymer. METHODS: Forty adult male albino Wistar (Ratus norvegicus) rats weighing from 250g to 300g were used. They were divided into four groups (n=10), G1, G2, G3 and G4. The control groups G1 and G2 did not receive any graft. Non-critical defects were created in the calvarium region of groups G3 and G4 with a trephine drill. Group G3 was grafted with bovine bone (Gen-ox, Baumer S.A., Mogi Mirin, Brazil) and group G4 with castor bean polymer (Poliquil Araraquara Produtos Quimicos Ltda., Araraquara, Brazil). Six months after the surgical intervention, the animals were killed and the specimens were collected for tensile strength tests in a Universal Vitrodyne machine, model V1000 (Liveco Inc., Burlington, VT). The nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the results of the groups followed by the Student-Newman-Keuls test. Statistical analysis was done by the software SigmaStat, version 2.0. The significance level was set at 5%. RESULTS: The tensile strength of the bone specimens of group G4 was significantly higher than that of G3. All groups presented a similar elastic modulus. CONCLUSION: Castor bean polymer proved to be a promising material for bone grafting, since it presented a higher tensile strength than bovine bone. These biomaterials presented similar elastic modulus. However, new studies are necessary to determine other parameters.

: biocompatible materials; bone regeneration; bone transplantation.