Experimental and Histological Validation of Nanostructured Products Use in Maxillofacial Surgery

The aim of the study is using experimental histological techniques to validate the beneficial potential of specific medical devices made of nanostructured titanium, and compare their effect with factorymade products currently applied in maxillofacial surgery. Material and methods. The study involved 50 sexually mature male Chinchilla rabbits. An open fracture of the lower jaw was simulated in the animals. In the 1st series of the experiment, the fragments were fixed using nanostructured miniplates and miniscrews made of Grade 4 titanium. In the 2nd series, they were fixed with standard miniplates and miniscrews from Konmet LLC. The material for the study was taken on the 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th and 40th days after the operation. In all series the object of the study was the extirpated lower jaw in the fracture area. The prepared histological sections were stained with Mayer's hematoxylin and eosin. The immunohistochemistry technique was used to identify cells with signs of proliferation (synthesizing the Ki67 protein), to assess the expression of the synthesis of proteins p53, caspasa 3 and the anti-apoptotic protein bcl-2. The surfaces of titanium structures were studied by scanning electron microscopy. The results were processed statistically. Results. The study investigated the effect of miniplates and miniscrews made of nanostructured and standard titanium on rabbits. The data obtained revealed the nature of the proliferative and apoptotic potentials of osteoblasts in the regenerate, and also indicated an increase in the ratio of the number of cambial cells and cells with an apoptotic dominant in the zone contacting with the nanostructured surface of the titanium screw compared to the titanium screw manufactured by Konmet LLC. Taken together, the obtained data indicate that the use of nanostructured titanium Grade 4 for the production of miniplates and miniscrews has an optimizing effect on reparative osteogenesis. The mechanism of this effect is determined by the presence of osseointegration properties of titanium. Conclusion. Nanostructured titanium is advisable to use for the production of implants, reconstructive titanium plates and other products for bone grafting.