STANDARDIZED DEFECT SHEEP MODELS AS A PREREQUISITE FOR OVINE NCSCS BONE REGENERATION RESEARCH

Abstract

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The use of animal models is an essential step in the testing of new biomaterials prior to use in humans. There are many animal models for bone regeneration research, each having differences in bone remodelling and bony architecture, with potential advantages and disadvantages. Sheep have been used as an animal model for various fields of biomedical research. Mandibular defect models and extraoral models in sheep, including tibia, lower femur, and maxillary sinus have been investigated. These models allow us to compare osseous healing in different bone types (trabecular cancellous bone or dense cortical bone). Bone tissue engineering using ovineNCSCs offers a promising strategy for healing severe bone injuries by utilizing the body's natural biological response to tissue damage in conjunction with engineering principles. Therefore, we decided to test the potential of this biological strategy for tissue-healing enhancement in a big animal model, the standardized defect sheep model, in order to have clear indications on the most suitable augmentation approach for a future clinical application.