Abstract

The ideal scaffold for bone regeneration needs a number of requirements, such as biostability until the formation of mature tissue, high porosity for cell migration, extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and vascularization, and non-immunogenicity. Moreover it should be bioresorbable, osteoconductive and possibly osteoinductive. Processed bovine spongy bone xenografts, coated with poly(L-lactic-co-ε-caprolactone) (PLCL) and added with gelatin are commercially available as a new class III medical device (SmartBone®, IBI S/A, Switzerland) [1]. This study was aimed at investigating the process of new bone formation in patients treated with SmartBone® for sinus lift procedures prior to dental implants.