Abstract

To evaluate the effectiveness of fucoidan gelatine containing chitosan injectable hydrogel in bone regeneration in rats by histopathological experimentation, a randomized laboratory experimental trial was conducted on 30 Albino Wistar rats. Animals were randomly distributed into 3 groups. Micro defects of 2-3 mm were created in the tibia of each animal and the defects were treated with bone substitutes. Group 1 was treated with 1 % fucoidan-0.5 % chitosan hydrogel, Group 2 served as control and Group 3 was filled with concentrated growth factor. All the animals were followed up for 28 d to appreciate wound healing and new bone formation. Fisher’s exact test was used to study the difference in bone regeneration and inflammation between the groups. The ratio of new bone per total area was significantly superior in both test groups when compared to the control group at the end of 28 d. New osteoblasts were significantly more in the fucoidan group followed by group 3 (p<0.05). No statistically significant difference in inflammation status was observed between the 3 groups (p>0.05) at both 14 and 28 d. The presence of fucoidan in the hydrogel significantly contributed to bone regeneration in animals thus proving to be a substitute for tissue engineering.