THE EFFECT OF (GELATIN/HYDROXYAPATITE NANOPARTICLES GEL ) VERSUS (CURCUMIN/GELATIN/HYDROXYAPATITE NANOPARTICLES GEL) ON RABBITS EXTRACTION SOCKET HEALING (HISTOLOGICAL STUDY)

Introduction: Hydroxyapatite (HA) is a biocompatible biomaterial used for bone regeneration but has limitations, such as poor mechanical properties and slow degradation. Curcumin, derived from turmeric, offers anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits. Nanoparticles (NPs) have potential in biomedical applications due to their controlled size and purity. Objectives: This study assesses the effects of gelatin/hydroxyapatite nanoparticles gel (Gel/HA NPs gel) and curcumin/gelatin/hydroxyapatite nanoparticles gel (Cur/Gel/HA NPs gel) on alveolar bone socket healing in rabbits. Materials and Methods: Forty-two male New Zealand rabbits underwent extraction of the right mandibular first premolar and were divided into three groups: Group I (control, no treatment), Group II (Gel/HA NPs gel), and Group III (Cur/Gel/HA NPs gel). A 0.1 ml dose of gel was applied to the extraction sockets in Groups II and III. After 2 and 4 weeks, rabbits were euthanized, and their samples were analyzed using light microscopy and histomorphometry to assess newly formed bone surface area. Results: Group III (Cur/Gel/HA NPs gel) showed significantly better bone formation than the control group. No significant difference was observed between Group II (Gel/HA NPs gel) and Group III. Histological analysis revealed denser, more organized bone with mature Haversian systems in Group III, while Groups I and II showed slower bone formation. Conclusion: Curcumin-loaded HA NPs gel enhances bone regeneration in the rabbit model, suggesting potential for clinical bone healing. Keywords: Hydroxyapatite (HA), Curcumin (Cur), Nanotechnology, Nanoparticles (NPs), Socket healing. Running Title: Hydroxyapatite versus Curcumin, hydroxyapatite nanoparticles gels on rabbits socket healing.