title: Effect of implanted Cu/low-density polyethylene nanocomposite on the morphology of endometrium in the mouse.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the damage of endometrium caused by the implanted Cu/low-density polyethylene (LDPE) nanocomposite and the contraceptive effect of this novel copper-containing intrauterine device material.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental animal study.
  
  
  METHODS
  TongJi Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty healthy female mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty mice received no implants, 20 mice received the Cu/LDPE nanocomposite, and 20 mice received bulk copper.
  
  
  METHODS
  Morphologic features of the endometrium, contraceptive effect, and surface condition of the implanted implants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The contraceptive effect of both the Cu/LDPE nanocomposite and bulk copper is 100%, the damage of the endometrium caused by the Cu/LDPE nanocomposite is much less than that caused by bulk copper, and the surface of the implanted Cu/LDPE nanocomposite is much smoother and much softer than that of the implanted bulk copper.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The contraceptive effect of the Cu/LDPE nanocomposite is comparable with that of bulk copper, and the damage of the endometrium caused by the Cu/LDPE nanocomposite is much less than that caused by bulk copper. The endometrium injury is related to the surface condition of the implanted intrauterine device material.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Xianping
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Changsheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Changhong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Shuizhou
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Xiangliang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003267:Contraception / Q000295:instrumentation; D003300:Copper / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D007435:Intrauterine Devices, Copper / Q000009:adverse effects; D051379:Mice; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020959:Polyethylene / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D003300:Copper; D020959:Polyethylene