Propolis-bovine hydroxyapatite scaffold, with or without glutaraldehyde crosslinking, enhances bone healing: An experimental study on femoral small-sized defect model
Ilham Irsyam, Ferdiansyah Mahyudin, Gondo Mastutik, Tri Widyawati, Radita Nur Anggraeni Ginting, Muhammad Haikal FarhatObjectives:
This study evaluated whether bovine hydroxyapatite (BHA) combined with propolis, with or without glutaraldehyde (GTA) crosslinking, enhances bone healing in a rat femoral small-sized defect model.
Methods:
Forty-eight male Wistar rats were allocated into four groups: small-sized defect only, BHA, BHA plus propolis, and BHA plus propolis with GTA. Four specimens from each group were collected on days 3, 14, and 35 after intervention. Bone healing was assessed macroscopically and histologically using osteoblast and osteoclast categories and callus formation based on Allen’s histological score. Outcome assessment was performed using blinded observers, and group comparisons were analyzed separately at each time point.
Results:
Scaffold-treated groups showed earlier macroscopic defect filling and greater callus formation than the defect-only group. Osteoblast activity differed significantly among groups on day 14, with the BHA-propolis group showing higher osteoblast activity than BHA alone. On day 35, propolis-containing groups showed lower osteoclast activity and histological features consistent with later-phase healing. Callus formation differed significantly among groups on days 3 and 14 but was present in all groups by day 35. No clear statistically significant difference was observed between BHA plus propolis and BHA plus propolis with GTA.
Conclusion:
BHA combined with propolis supported early bone-healing activity in a rat femoral small-sized defect model. GTA crosslinking did not provide a measurable additional histological advantage. These findings should not be interpreted as evidence of critical-size defect or non-union repair.