Fabrication and characterization of permeable degradable poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) hollow fiber phase inversion membranes for use as nerve tract guidance channels.
Biodegradable permeable poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) hollow fiber membranes (HFMs) were fabricated using a wet phase inversion technique. By varying several parameters, such as the spinneret size, solvent and non-solvent pair, polymer concentration, flow rate, precipitation method, drop height, and small molecular pore-forming agents, PLGA HFMs with variable sizes, surface morphologies, porosities, and diffusive permeability were obtained. Under simulated physiological conditions in vitro, PLGA HFMs exhibited a degradation profile to accommodate nervous system regeneration and axonal outgrowth. While accelerated degradation resulted in substantial molecular weight loss starting at 2 weeks and loss of selective permeability at 3 weeks, PLGA HFMs maintained gross structural integrity in the first 4 weeks, followed by sharp weight loss at 6 weeks and complete disappearance at about 8 weeks. When compared to the raw PLGA material in a pellet form, which underwent heterogeneous degradation, the PLGA HFMs exhibited a homogeneous degradation where the surface and bulk degraded at approximately the same rate, and an overall lower degradation rate. Our results indicate that using a wet phase inversion technique, degradable HFMs with variable size, inner and outer surface morphologies, porosity, and permeability with potential applications for nerve tract guidance conduits can be fabricated.
Wen
Xuejun
X
Department of Bioengineering, Keck Center for Tissue Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA. xjwen@clemson.edu
Tresco
Patrick A
PA
D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008422:Materials Testing; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010539:Permeability; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D013499:Surface Properties; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011108:Polymers; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid