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A Facile Composite Strategy to Prepare a Biodegradable Polymer Based Radiopaque Raw Material for "Visualizable"
Qunsong Wang1, Xiaoye Yu1, Xianmiao Chen2
1State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|May 17, 2022
Summary
Researchers created a new radiopaque biodegradable polymer by blending poly(l-lactic acid) with iohexol. This material is visible under X-ray and degrades in aqueous environments, showing promise for medical devices.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Medical Device Engineering
Background:
- Developing radiopaque biodegradable polymers is crucial for advanced medical devices.
- Current methods of blending polymers and contrast agents lack thorough fundamental research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To create a novel radiopaque and biodegradable polymer composite.
- To investigate the properties and potential applications of this new biomaterial.
Main Methods:
- Blending poly(l-lactic acid) (PLA) with iohexol (IHX) to form a continuous PLA phase with dispersed IHX particles.
- In vitro characterization and in vivo subcutaneous implantation in rats for up to 6 months.
- Evaluation of a tricomponent system including poly(vinylpyrrolidone) to assess mechanical property modifications.
Main Results:
- The PLA-IHX composite demonstrated effective X-ray radiopacity and biodegradability in aqueous media.
- PLA crystallization was significantly enhanced by the presence of solid IHX particles.
- The tricomponent composite showed altered mechanical properties, including decreased modulus and increased elongation at break and tensile strength.
Conclusions:
- The developed PLA-IHX composite is a promising radiopaque and biodegradable material for medical applications.
- Particle-induced crystallization affects biodegradation rate and mechanical properties, requiring careful consideration in material design.
- Tricomponent systems offer tunable mechanical properties, expanding material selection possibilities for specific tissue engineering and device applications.
