title: Long-term in vivo biomechanical properties and biocompatibility of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-methyl methacrylate) nerve conduits.
abstract: Artificial grafts are promising alternatives to nerve grafts for peripheral nerve repair because they obviate the complications and disadvantages associated with autografting such as donor site morbidity and limited tissue availability. We have synthesized poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-methyl methacrylate) (PHEMA-MMA) porous tubes and studied their efficacy in vivo. Specifically, we studied the short- and long-term stability and biocompatibility of 12 mm long tubes for the repair of surgically created 10 mm nerve gaps in rat sciatic nerves. Prior to implantation, tubes were analyzed in vitro using a micro-mechanical tester to measure displacement achieved with load applied. These results served as a calibration curve, y = 6.8105 x -0.0073 (R2 = 0.9750, n = 28), for in vivo morphometric tube compression measurements. In vivo, most of the PHEMA-MMA conduits maintained their structural integrity up to 8 weeks, but 29% (4/14) of them collapsed by 16 weeks. Interestingly, the tube wall area of collapsed 16-week tubes was significantly lower than those of patent tubes. Tubes were largely biocompatible; however, a small subset of 16-week tubes displayed signs of chronic inflammation characterized by "finger-like" tissue extensions invading the inner tube aspect, inflammatory cells (some of which were ED1+macrophages) and giant cells. Tubes also demonstrated signs of calcification, which increased from 8 to 16 weeks. To overcome these issues, future nerve conduits will be re-designed to be more robust and biocompatible.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosurgery and Neuroscience Research Program, Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont., Canada, M4N 3M5.
authors.forename: Jason S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Belkas
authors.forename: Catherine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Munro
authors.forename: Molly S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Shoichet
authors.forename: Miles
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: Rajiv
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Midha
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000379:methods; D004548:Elasticity; D005549:Foreign-Body Reaction / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D020007:Implants, Experimental / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008422:Materials Testing; D008689:Methacrylates / Q000737:chemistry*; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D011102:Polyhydroxyethyl Methacrylate / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D020426:Sciatic Neuropathy / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D008689:Methacrylates; D011102:Polyhydroxyethyl Methacrylate; C059480:poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate-methacrylic acid)hydrogel