Collagen membranes are widely used in tissue and bone engineering, including guided bone regeneration (GBR). For effective and uninterrupted bone healing, a GBR membrane must maintain its functionality for an initial critical period of 4 weeks. A novel carp collagen sponge has already shown promise as a wound coating and vascular graft coating, making it a candidate for GBR applications as well. To enhance the mechanical properties and longevity of GBR membranes, we modified the basic carp collagen membrane with combinations of l-lactide, ε-caprolactone, d,l-lactide, and glycolide in various molar ratios. While traditional methods rely on histological evaluation to assess the degradation pattern and therefore suitability of GBR membranes ex vivo, this study employed micro-MRI as an innovative, noninvasive approach to monitor the in vivo degradation of carp collagen membrane and its polymer-modified variants. Our findings demonstrated that micro-MRI is a reliable and effective method for visualizing collagen membrane degradation in vivo, up to scaffold disintegration. Among the variants tested, collagen GBR membrane coated with d,l-lactide and glycolide in a 50:50 M ratio emerged as the most suitable for GBR purposes. However, since this study was conducted in the subcutaneous tissue of a rat model, further research is required to determine the behavior of carp collagen GBR membrane variants on bony surfaces.

• Keywords
• GBR membrane, TERM, carp skin collagen, guided bone regeneration, in vivo collagen degradation, inflammatory reaction, micro‐MRI analysis,
• MeSH
• Carps MeSH
• Collagen * chemistry   metabolism   MeSH
• Rats MeSH
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging MeSH
• Membranes, Artificial * MeSH
• Bone Regeneration MeSH
• Tissue Engineering MeSH
• Tissue Scaffolds chemistry   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Rats MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Collagen * MeSH
• Membranes, Artificial * MeSH

Bone defects resulting from trauma, surgery, and congenital, infectious, or oncological diseases are a functional and aesthetic burden for patients. Bone regeneration is a demanding procedure, involving a spectrum of molecular processes and requiring the use of various scaffolds and substances, often yielding an unsatisfactory result. Recently, the new collagen sponge and its structural derivatives manufactured from European carp (Cyprinus carpio) were introduced and patented. Due to its fish origin, the novel scaffold poses no risk of allergic reactions or transfer of zoonoses and additionally shows superior biocompatibility, mechanical stability, adjustable degradation rate, and porosity. In this review, we focus on the basic principles of bone regeneration and describe the characteristics of an "ideal" bone scaffold focusing on guided bone regeneration. Moreover, we suggest several possible applications of this novel material in bone regeneration processes, thus opening new horizons for further research.

• Keywords
• GBR membrane, bioactive scaffold, bone regeneration, carp collagen, tissue engineering,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Review MeSH