Evaluation of Recombinant CXCL12 Isoforms as Biologics for Spinal Arthrodesis

Since the FDA approved recombinant bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2; INFUSE™) as a bone graft substitute (BGS) for spinal fusion, serious safety concerns have arisen, resulting in an unmet need for a universally safe and efficacious BGS. The pro-osteogenic chemokine, CXCL12, improves the efficiency of BMP-2 in promoting bone formation in vivo. Although DBM alone is less efficacious than rhBMP-2, it does contain active growth factor and intrinsic osteoinductivity. Here, we will assess CXCL12 as a DBM adjunct under the hypothesis that CXCL12 incorporation will improve the efficacy of DBM as a BGS for spinal fusion in a rat arthrodesis model.