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New versatile, elastomeric, degradable polymeric materials for medicine.
B Saad1, P Neuenschwander, G K Uhlschmid
1Department of Materials, Institute of Polymers, ETH, Zurich, Switzerland.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
|July 23, 1999
Summary
DegraPol-foam shows good cell compatibility with chondrocytes and osteoblasts, supporting their growth and phenotype. Degradation products, poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyric acid] (PHB-P), are phagocytosed by macrophages and osteoblasts, with high concentrations impacting cell viability.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Cell Biology
- Tissue Engineering
Background:
- Biodegradable polyesterurethane-foam (DegraPol-foam) is a novel material for potential biomedical applications.
- Understanding cell compatibility and degradation product effects is crucial for its clinical translation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the cell compatibility of DegraPol-foam with chondrocytes and osteoblasts.
- To investigate the effects of polymer degradation products, specifically poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyric acid] (PHB-P) and lysine methyl ester, on macrophages and osteoblasts.
Main Methods:
- Cell adhesion, morphology, proliferation, and phenotype preservation assays were performed using isolated rat chondrocytes and osteoblasts on DegraPol-foam.
- Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to visualize cell-material interactions.
- The effects of PHB-P and lysine methyl ester on macrophages and osteoblasts were assessed, including phagocytosis and cytotoxicity.
Main Results:
- Chondrocytes and osteoblasts demonstrated high cell adhesion and proliferation on DegraPol-foam, maintaining their phenotype for up to 2 weeks.
- SEM revealed cells growing on the foam surface and within pores, exhibiting both flat and rounded morphologies.
- Macrophages and osteoblasts phagocytosed PHB-P particles; low PHB-P concentrations showed no cytotoxicity, while high concentrations reduced macrophage and osteoblast viability.
Conclusions:
- DegraPol-foam exhibits excellent biocompatibility with chondrocytes and osteoblasts, supporting cell growth and phenotype maintenance.
- The degradation product PHB-P is phagocytosed by immune and bone cells, with dose-dependent effects on cell viability, suggesting careful consideration for in vivo applications.