title: Phagocyte responses to degradable polymers.
abstract: Although many biodegradable polymers, such as poly-L-lactic acid and poly-L-glycolic acid, are preferentially composed of biological residues normally present in the human body, implants made of these materials often trigger inflammatory and fibrotic responses. Unfortunately, the mechanisms involved in degradable material-mediated tissue responses remain largely unknown. Using animal implantation and cell culture system models, we found a strong correlation between the rate of material degradation and the degree of inflammatory response to material implants. Furthermore, we have identified that both water-soluble and water-insoluble degradation products are potent triggers of phagocyte activation, including at the least, superoxide production. These results support a new concept that slow degradation may improve the biocompatibility of degradable drug-releasing particles and tissue engineering scaffolds.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Wei-Wu
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Shih-Horng
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Robert C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Eberhart
authors.forename: Liping
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008422:Materials Testing; D051379:Mice; D010586:Phagocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D011091:Polyesters; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011108:Polymers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019736:Prostheses and Implants / Q000009:adverse effects; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D013481:Superoxides; D019344:Lactic Acid; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C033616:poly(lactide)