RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of hyaluronic acid (HA) in the structure and degradation patterns of BioGide® and OsseoGuard™ collagen membranes. HA mediates inflammation and acts in cell migration, adhesion, and differentiation, benefitting tissue remodeling and vascularization. These are desirable effects in guided regeneration procedures, but it is still unknown whether HA alters the barrier properties of absorbable membranes. DESIGN: Bone defects were created in the calvaria of rats, which were treated with HA gel 1% (HA group) or simply filled with blood clot (control group), and covered with BioGide® or OsseoGuard™. The animals were euthanized after 1, 30, and 60days, and their calvarias were processed for histological analysis. RESULTS: BioGide®, in both HA and control groups, showed vascularization, intense cell colonization, bone formation, and tissue integration at 30 and 60days. In contrast, Osseoguard™ presented minimal cellular colonization, and inflammatory reaction associated to foreign body reaction in both time points and groups. The HA group of BioGide® showed higher cell colonization (574.9±137.6) than the control group (269.1±70.83) at 60days (p<0.05). Despite this finding, the structure and degradation pattern were similar for BioGide® and Osseoguard™ in the HA and control groups. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that HA did not interfere with tissue integration and structural degradation of BioGide® and Osseoguard™ membranes.