Periodontal Tissue Regeneration Using Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Delivered by Collagen Sponge

Aim: To evaluate the influence of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in combination with collagen sponges on periodontal tissue regeneration. Methods: Unilateral, "box-Type" (4 × 5 mm), one-wall intrabony defects were surgically created at posterior mandibular teeth in 14 Beagle dogs. Animals received all experimental groups, and the defects were randomly treated as follows: Emdogain^® (positive control) [EMD]; HeliPlug^®+BDNF [H/B]; RCP^®+BDNF [R/B]; negative control [Control]; TeruPlug^®+BDNF [Tp/B]; and TeruPlug^®+BDNF2 [Ts/B]. Periodontal wound healing was observed every 2 weeks by computed tomography. The animals were euthanized at 8 weeks postsurgery for microcomputed tomography and histomorphometric evaluation. Results: All groups presented ∼1 mm apical epithelial attachment relative to cementoenamel junction. Although linear measurements did not demonstrate significant differences between groups for cementum and periodontal ligament regeneration, semiquantitative analysis depicted higher percentage of samples with mineralized cementum and functional PDL for Ts/B, R/B, and H/B groups relative to EMD and Control (p < 0.046). Irrespective of quantification method (2D or 3D), Ts/B, Control, Tp/B, and H/B groups presented the highest mean percentage of new bone (not significantly different) followed by R/B and EMD groups. Conclusion: While no significant differences were detected in quantitative analyses, Ts/B combination results in significantly more samples with full periodontal tissue regeneration relative to control groups. The various roles played by brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in a multitude of tissues and at different scenarios have rendered BDNF a favorable candidate for improving tissue regeneration. Although the tested formulations of BDNF quantitatively regenerate tissue to a level similar to control groups, it resulted in significantly more instances of full regeneration.