Polylactide bioabsorbable polymers for guided tissue regeneration.
OBJECTIVE
Guided tissue regeneration is a procedure to improve tissue repair, which creates an optimal environment for the intrinsic growth ability of tissues.


METHODS
A prerequisite for guided tissue regeneration is the availability of materials with suitable physicochemical and biocompatibility properties for the preparation of the devices. We investigated bone and peripheral nerve guided tissue regeneration, making two conduits from poly[L-lactide-co-6-caprolactone] (PLLC--peripheral nerve) and with poly [DL-lactide] (PDLLA--bone) with different features. After the polymer synthesis and chemical characterization, the conduits were evaluated in vivo in rat sciatic nerve gaps and in rabbit radius defects.


RESULTS
The results demonstrated good biocompatibility of both polymeric conduits. A good axonal regeneration and the restoration of the nerve trunk continuity, similar to that observed with autologous grafts has been obtained with PLLC conduits, that slowly degrade in about 6 months. PDLLA conduits protected the bone defect against the invasion of surrounding soft tissues; an effective bone growth bridging the defect was observed in their lumen.


CONCLUSIONS
These results confirm the versatility of polylactides as biomaterials and will encourage further investigations on hard and soft tissues.
Giardino
R
R
Experimental Surgery Department, Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute, University of Bologna, Italy. giardino@alma.unibo.it
Fini
M
M
Nicoli Aldini
N
N
Giavaresi
G
G
Rocca
M
M
D000042:Absorption; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001861:Bone Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D008297:Male; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D011091:Polyesters / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011817:Rabbits; D011859:Radiography; D011884:Radius / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011091:Polyesters; C033616:poly(lactide)