In vivo biocompatibility and biodegradability of poly(lactic acid)/poly(epsilon-caprolactone) blend compatibilized with poly(epsilon-caprolactone-b-tetrahydrofuran) in Wistar rats

Author(s):Show less -

Conde, Gabriel ^[1] ; de Carvalho, Julia Ribeiro Garcia ^[1] ; Dias, Paula do Patrocinio ^[2] ; Moranza, Henriette Gellert ^[1] ; Montanhim, Gabriel Luiz ^[3] ; Ribeiro, Juliana de Oliveira ^[3] ; Chinelatto, Marcelo Aparecido ^[2] ; Moraes, Paola Castro ^[3] ; Taboga, Sebastiao Roberto ^[4] ; Bertolo, Paulo Henrique Leal ^[5] ; Goncalves Funnicelli, Michelli Inacio ^[6] ; Pinheiro, Daniel Guariz ^[6] ; Ferraz, Guilherme de Camargo ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Sao Paulo State Univ Unesp, Lab Equine Exercise Physiol & Pharmacol LAFEQ, Dept Anim Morphol & Physiol, Sch Agr & Vet Sci, Jaboticabal, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Sao Carlos Sch Engn, Dept Mat Engn, Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

^[3] Sao Paulo State Univ Unesp, Sch Agr & Vet Sci, Dept Clin & Surg, Jaboticabal, SP - Brazil

^[4] UNESP Sao Paulo State Univ Unesp, Dept Biol, Sao Jose Do Rio Preto, SP - Brazil

^[5] Sao Paulo State Univ UNESP, Sch Agr & Vet Sci, Dept Vet Pathol, Jaboticabal, SP - Brazil

^[6] Sao Paulo State Univ UNESP, Sch Agr & Vet Sci, Dept Technol, Jaboticabal, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: BIOMEDICAL PHYSICS & ENGINEERING EXPRESS; v. 7, n. 3 MAY 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL) are two important aliphatic esters known for their biodegradability and bioresorbability properties; the former is stiffer and brittle while the smaller modulus of the latter allows a suitable elongation. The new biomaterials being developed from the blend of these two polymers (PLA and PCL) is opportune due to the reducing interfacial tension between their immiscible phases. In a previous study, PLA/PCL immiscible blend when compatibilized with poly(e-caprolactone-b-tetrahydrofuran) resulted in enhanced ductility and toughness no cytotoxic effect in vitro tests. There is little published data on the effect of poly(e-caprolactone-b-tetrahydrofuran) on PLA and PCL biocompatibility and biodegradability in vivo tests. This study focuses on evaluating the behavioral response and polymer-tissue interaction of compatibilized PLA/PCL blend compared to neat PLA implanted via intraperitoneal (IP) and subcutaneous (SC) in male Wistar rats, distributed in four experimental groups: neat PLA, PLA/PCL blend, sham, and control at 2-, 8- and 24-weeks post-implantation (WPI). An open-field test was performed to appraise emotionality and spontaneous locomotor activity. Histopathological investigation using hematoxylin-eosin (H\&E) and picrosirius-hematoxylin (PSH) was used to assess polymer-tissue interaction. Modifications in PLA and the PLA/PCL blend's surface morphology were determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). PLA group defecated more often than PLA/PCL rats 2 and 8 WPI. Conjunctive capsule development around implants, cell adhesion, angiogenesis, and giant cells of a foreign body to the biomaterial was observed in light microscopy. Both groups displayed a fibrous reaction along with collagen deposition around the biomaterials. In the SEM, the images showed a higher degradation rate for the PLA/PCL blend in both implantation routes. The polymers implanted via IP exhibited a higher degradation rate compared to SC. These findings emphasize the biocompatibility of the PLA/PCL blend compatibilized with poly(e-caprolactone-b-tetrahydrofuran), making this biopolymer an acceptable alternative in a variety of biomedical applications. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/26738-1 - Behavior and muscle biomarkers in rats submitted to overtraining syndrome
• Grantee: Guilherme de Camargo Ferraz
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants