Immunohistochemical study of the influence of silver nanoparticles on bone healing of induced bone defects in rabbit mandible

Abstract Background Bone grafts and bone substitutes are extensively utilized in dentistry due to advancements in dental implantology and the increasing need for jaw bone defect repairBone grafting materials serve as scaffolds and fillers, promoting osteogenesis and wound healing while also providing structural support for functional and aesthetic restoration. Adding nano-silver particles into bone grafting material could promote bone healing due to their antibacterial properties. Objectives The purpose of the current study was to compare the effectiveness of calcium sulfate (CS) grafts alone and a combination of CS graft with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in treating bone defects in rabbit mandibles. Patient and methods Twenty-four white male New Zealand rabbits were utilized in this study. The animals were divided into two groups; group I, serving as a negative and positive control, had bone defects with no treatment. Group II (experimental groups) involved rabbits being anesthetized and a bone defect was created on the right side of the mandible, then treated CS combined with AgNPs, while the left side of mandible received a CS graft alone. Rabbits were sacrificed at intervals of 3 and 9 weeks, and the harvested mandible specimens were decalcified and embedded in paraffin blocks. The sections from these blocks were cut and stained with hematoxyline and eosin for histopathological analysis and were immunohistochemically stained for osteocalcin. Conclusion CS mixed with AgNP appears to be a safe, effective, and readily available bone graft substitute for treating osseous defects.