BACKGROUND: Much more studies are in need to understand how to apply the effective bio-active compounds of Traditional Chinese Medicine to orthopaedics clinical practices through the controlled release biological brackets.
OBJECTIVE: To objectively evaluate the feasibility of applying the effective bio-active compounds of Traditional Chinese Medicine composite with icariin-release brackets to bone repair by literature search and comprehensive analysis.
METHODS: A computer-based online search of related articles published from January 1995 to December 2010 was performed in CNKI database and PubMed database using the key words of “bone defect, icariin, release bracket, chitosan, hydroxyapatite” in Chinese and in English, respectively. Articles related to research purposes were involved to summarize.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Totally 24 literatures were involved. Studies have shown that icariin medicine can promote the formation of osteoblasts and inhibit bone resorption. The nano hydroxyapatite-chitosan composite scaffolds have the good physical and chemical properties and biocompatibility, and can be used to build tissue engineered bone. Therefore, it is feasible to control the release rate and release pattern of icariin in order to achieve sustained and stable drug delivery based on the further improved synthesis of nano-crystals.