Recently, minimally invasive surgery based on a tissue engineering has become possible. We used an animal model to evaluate a method for bone regeneration by maxillary sinus floor augmentation that uses mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) instead of an autologous bone graft. The MSCs were isolated from rabbit iliac crest marrow aspirates, and PRP was obtained from peripheral blood. MSCs and PRP complexes were used for grafting. In the control group, autogenous particulate cancellous bone and marrow (PCBM) was collected and mixed with PRP. Histological examination showed that new bone formation was good in both groups at 2 and 4 weeks. At 8 weeks, lamellar bone had formed, but fatty marrow was also observed in both groups.
The present results suggest that MSCs/PRP complexes may be used in place of autogenous bone to promote bone regeneration after maxillary sinus floor augmentation.