Development of a Drug Delivery System Using a Compound Based on Ethyl Cyanoacrylate and Hancornia speciosa (Gomes) in a Rat Calvaria Model

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Regenerating critical-sized bone defects is a significant clinical challenge. Autogenous bone grafts are the gold standard but have limitations, including donor site morbidity. As an alternative, this study introduces a novel biocomposite combining an ethyl cyanoacrylate (ECA) polymer with <i>Hancornia speciosa</i> (Hs) latex. The ECA acts as a scaffold and delivery vehicle for the latex, which contains phytochemicals with known angiogenic properties. <b>Methods</b>: We created 5 mm critical-sized calvarial defects in 36 Wistar rats, which were divided into four experimental groups. Bone regeneration was evaluated at 30, 60, and 90 days using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) for morphometric analysis and hematoxylin and eosin staining for histology. <b>Results</b>: The composite-treated group (Hs+ECA) showed significantly higher bone volume (57.2; IQR: 56.7-61.2) than the control (53.9; IQR: 49.4-56.4) and ECA-only (48.4; IQR: 47.2-59.9) groups at 90 days (<i>p</i> < 0.05). By day 60, the bone volume in the Hs+ECA group was statistically similar (<i>p</i> > 0.05) to that of the autogenous bone group. Histological analysis revealed an organized repair process with neoangiogenesis observed only in the Hs+ECA group, confirming the material's strong bioactivity. <b>Conclusions</b>: The Hs+ECA composite is a promising biomaterial that acts as an effective delivery system for the bioactive components of the latex. The induced angiogenesis was critical to its regenerative success. This cost-effective material warrants further investigation for clinical applications in regenerative dentistry.