OBJECTIVETo construct the tissue-engineered biological small intestinal submucosa(SIS) membrane and evaluate the feasibility of its use as a surrogate of periosteum and its possible role in dental implant distraction (DID).

METHODSThe tissue-engineered biological SIS membrane was constructed through the co-culturing of boat bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC) and small intestinal submucosa. The cellular compatibility was evaluated with the phase contrast microscope, SEM, alkaline phosphatase(ALP) activity and histology, and its effect of osteogenesis promotion was detected by Micro-CT and histology after implanted in the exposed side of DID operation.

RESULTSThe phase contrast microscope, SEM, ALP activity and histology confirmed that the BMSC could adhere to SIS and proliferate on it normally, the cellular activity and function were not affected by SIS. Three months after the tissue-engineered biological SIS membrane was implanted into the exposed side, some discontinuous new bone in the "biological SIS membrane" group was detected by the Micro-CT under a higher window level. The histology revealed that there was a quantity of new bone in the distracted region and the majority was woven bone. The quantity and quality of the new bone in the "biological SIS membrane" implanted group were similar to the unexposed side, but the bone nonunion was detected in the un-implanted group and the interspace was fixed by fibrous connective tissue.

CONCLUSIONSThe tissue-engineered biological SIS membrane can provide both daughter cells, guide bone regeneration in DID and promote the osteogenesis. But the outcome of the biological SIS membrane, especially the function of the osteoblast cultured in the SIS in new bone formation, still needs further study.