Local application of lactoferrin promotes bone regeneration in a rat critical‐sized calvarial defect model as demonstrated by micro‐CT and histological analysis

Lactoferrin is a multifunctional glycoprotein with therapeutic potential for bone tissue engineering. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of local application of lactoferrin on bone regeneration. Five‐millimetre critical‐sized defects were created over the right parietal bone in 64 Sprague–Dawley rats. The rats were randomized into four groups: group 1 (n = 20) had empty defects; group 2 (n = 20) had defects grafted with collagen gels (3 mg/ml); group 3 (n = 20) had defects grafted with collagen gels impregnated with bovine lactoferrin (10 μg/gel); and group 4 (n = 4) had sham surgeries (skin and periosteal incisions only). The rats were sacrificed at 4 or 12 weeks post‐operatively, and the calvaria were excised and evaluated with micro‐CT (Skyscan 1172) followed by histology. The bone volume fraction (BV/TV) was higher in lactoferrin‐treated animals at both timepoints, with groups 1, 2, 3 and 4 measuring 10.5 ± 1.1%, 8.6 ± 1.4%, 16.5 ± 0.6% and 24.27 ± 2.6%, respectively, at 4 weeks (P < 0.05); and 12.2 ± 1.3%, 13.6 ± 1.5%, 21.9 ± 1.2% and 29.3 ± 0.8%, respectively, at 12 weeks (P < 0.05). Histological analysis revealed that the newly formed bone within the calvarial defects of all groups was a mixture of woven and lamellar bone, with more bone in the group treated with lactoferrin at both timepoints. Our study demonstrated that local application of lactoferrin significantly increased bone regeneration in a rat critical‐sized calvarial defect model. The profound effect of lactoferrin on bone regeneration has therapeutic potential to improve the poor clinical outcomes associated with bony non‐union. LF In Vivo JTERM Authors Contributions. Copyright © 2016 The Authors Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.