New versatile, elastomeric, degradable polymeric materials for medicine.
The present investigation was focused on the cell compatibility of recently developed biodegradable polyesterurethane-foam (DegraPol-foam) to chondrocytes and osteoblasts. Both chondrocytes and osteoblasts, isolated from adult male rats, exhibited relatively high cell adhesion on DegraPol-foam. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that cells grew on the surface and into the open cell pores of the foam. Morphologically, cells found on the surface of the foam exhibited a flat cell appearance and built a confluent cell multilayer. In contrast, inside the foams cell showed rounded morphology building cell aggregates and cell islets. In addition, chondrocytes and osteoblasts proliferated on the DegraPol-foam and preserved their phenotype for up to 2 weeks. During degradation of these polymers, small crystalline particles of short-chain poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyric acid] (Mn approximately 2300) (PHB-P) and lysine methyl ester are released. Therefore, lysine methyl ester and PHB-P, as possible degradation products of the polymer, are investigated here for their effects on macrophages and osteoblasts. Results obtained in the present study clearly indicate that macrophages and, to a lesser degree, osteoblasts have the ability to take up (phagocytose) PHB-P. At low concentrations, particles of PHB failed to induce cytotoxic effects or to activate macrophages. Osteoblasts showed only limited PHB-P phagocytosis and no signs of any cellular damage. At high concentrations of PHB-P, the cell viability of macrophages and to a lesser extent of osteoblasts was affected.
Department of Materials, Institute of Polymers, ETH, Zurich, Switzerland.
B
B
Saad
P
P
Neuenschwander
G K
GK
Uhlschmid
U W
UW
Suter
D000818:Animals; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D018786:Bone Substitutes; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002455:Cell Division; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D006868:Hydrolysis; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates / Q000032:analysis; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000378:metabolism; D011091:Polyesters / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D011140:Polyurethanes / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D000091402:Prohibitins; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013718:Tensile Strength; D013997:Time Factors; D000094122:Polyhydroxybutyrates
D018786:Bone Substitutes; D003094:Collagen; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates; D015675:Osteocalcin; D011091:Polyesters; D011140:Polyurethanes; D000091402:Prohibitins; C104154:DegraPol; C000717332:Phb protein, rat; C003182:poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate; D000094122:Polyhydroxybutyrates