Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) is a technique that applies membranes to favor the regeneration of periodontal tissues lost due to periodontal disease. The membranes normally used have limitations however, mainly related to the difficulty in stabilizing the defect. In this study, two biomaterials of Brazilian origin, hydroxyapatite (HAP) and polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), were used to make rigid membranes for GTR. Membranes were made with 25, 35 or 50% HAP in a PHB matrix by injection molding. The membranes were highly crystalline, with an initial smooth surface topography where HAP particles were not exposed. Membranes were grinded with a dental bur, similarly to the surgery procedure for their implantation in vivo. This procedure resulted on the HAP granules being exposed on a surface with pores and linear features of dimensions varying from 3.55 µm ± 1.14 to 75.98 µm ± 30.76, which are thus characterized as microtopography. Additionally, HAP was responsible for a greater surface complexity. Therefore, these characteristics of rigidity and surface microtopography may be able to provide stability to a periodontal defect and allow a greater cell migration, both favoring periodontal regeneration.
guided tissue regeneration; hydroxyapatite; polyhydroxybutyrate; composite; surface topography analysis
