Biological Effect of Resorbable Plates on Normal Osteoblasts and Osteoblasts Derived From Pfeiffer Syndrome

Abstract: Biodegradable fixation devices made of the polymers polylactide, polyglycolide and their copolymers are used routinely during maxillofacial, craniofacial, and orthopedic reconstructivesurgical procedures, thanks to their property of biodegradation thatavoid the need for implant removal. In particular, they are used inthe treatment of craniosynostosis in pediatric patients affected byPfeiffer syndrome, where the resorption time of 1 year or less doesnot interfere with the normal growth of the skull. To study themechanism how polylactide-polyglycolide (PLPG) acid plates caninduce osteoblast differentiation and proliferation in normal osteoblastsand in osteoblasts derived from a patient with Pfeiffer syndrome,the expression levels of bone-related genes were analyzedusing real-time reverse transcriptionYpolymerase chain reaction.Osteoblasts grown on the PLPG acid plates resulted in significantupregulation of mRNA expression of many genes related to osteodifferentiationduring the treatment, indicating that polylactide,polyglycolide biopolymers enhance proliferation, differentiation,and deposition of matrix in osteoblasts. This study also revealedsome differences in gene expression between normal osteoblasts andosteoblasts derived from patients with Pfeiffer syndrome, cultivated on PLPG acid plates.