biostudies-literatureUnknown26(6)Neuber CThe inducible enzyme cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and the subsequent synthesis of eicosanoids initiated by this enzyme are important molecular players in bone healing. In this pilot study, the suitability of a novel selective COX-2 inhibitor bearing a nitric oxide (NO)-releasing moiety was investigated as a modulator of healing a critical-size bone defect in rats. A 5 mm femoral defect was randomly filled with no material (negative control, NC), a mixture of collagen and autologous bone fragments (positive control, PC), or polycaprolactone-co-lactide (PCL)-scaffolds coated with two types of artificial extracellular matrix (aECM; collagen/chondroitin sulfate (Col/CS) or collagen/polysulfated hyaluronic acid (Col/sHA3)). Bone healing was monitored by a dual-tracer ([¹⁸F]FDG/[<sup>18</International journal of molecular sciences2582https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11942287biostudies-literatureExploring a Nitric Oxide-Releasing Celecoxib Derivative as a Potential Modulator of Bone Healing: Insights from Ex Vivo and In Vivo Imaging Experiments.PMC11942287Pietzsch JNiedenzu LSchulze SRammelt SHofheinz FNeuber CLaube MfalseExploring a Nitric Oxide-Releasing Celecoxib Derivative as a Potential Modulator of Bone Healing: Insights from Ex Vivo and In Vivo Imaging Experiments.The inducible enzyme cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and the subsequent synthesis of eicosanoids initiated by this enzyme are important molecular players in bone healing. In this pilot study, the suitability of a novel selective COX-2 inhibitor bearing a nitric oxide (NO)-releasing moiety was investigated as a modulator of healing a critical-size bone defect in rats. A 5 mm femoral defect was randomly filled with no material (negative control, NC), a mixture of collagen and autologous bone fragments (positive control, PC), or polycaprolactone-co-lactide (PCL)-scaffolds coated with two types of artificial extracellular matrix (aECM; collagen/chondroitin sulfate (Col/CS) or collagen/polysulfated hyaluronic acid (Col/sHA3)). Bone healing was monitored by a dual-tracer ([¹⁸F]FDG/[<sup>18</2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Mar2025-07-02T03:04:39.659Z2025-07-02T03:04:39.659ZS-EPMC119422874014122310.3390/ijms26062582