Biocompatibility Analysis Of Bioglass® 45S5 And Biosilicate® Implants In The Rabbit Eviscerated Socket

Silvana Schellini

Purpose: To assess the biocompatibility of bioactive glass and bioactive glass-ceramic cone implants placed in the rabbit eviscerated socket.

Methods: Fifty-one Norfolk albino rabbits underwent evisceration of the right eye followed by implantation of cones made from Bioglass® 45S5 (control group) and two types of bioactive glass-ceramic (single- and double-phase bioactive glass-ceramic [Biosilicate®]) implants into the scleral cavity. Postoperative reactions, animal behavior, and socket conditions were monitored daily. Clinical examination, biochemical evaluations and CT scanning of the orbits were performed at 7, 90, and 180 days post-procedure. The animals were euthanized and the orbital contents were removed and examined under light microscopy with morphometric evaluation and scanning electron microscopy examination. Statistical analysis was done by parametric and non-parametric analysis of variance, complemented by Dunn's and Tukey's tests (P<0.05).

Results: clinical and biochemical monitoring showed that all animals remained healthy throughout the experiment. There were no cases of orbital infection or implant extrusion. Morphological analysis demonstrated pseudocapsule formation around all implants, and suggested superiority of Bioglass® and single-phase Biosilicate® implants, which induced less inflammation and pseudocapsule formation than two-phase Biosilicate® cones. Morphometrics showed that inflammatory reaction was most intense 7 days post-procedure, gradually decreased throughout the experiment, and was least intense in animals receiving Bioglass® implants. CT scanning showed no instances of implant migration or changes in the orbital cavity.

Conclusions: Bioglass® and single- and two-phase Biosilicate® (bioactive glass-ceramic) implants may prove useful in management of the anophthalmic socket. Best responses are obtained with use of Bioglass® 45S5 and single-phase Biosilicate®.