Development of water-insoluble chitosan patch scaffold to repair traumatic tympanic membrane perforations.
Perforated tympanic membranes (TM) and otitis media can be managed with a paper patch or tympanoplasty. However, a paper patch is not biocompatible and tympanoplasty requires complex aseptic surgical procedures. A novel biocompatible patch with a water-insoluble chitosan as the main component was prepared. Optimal mechanical characteristics of a water-insoluble chitosan patch scaffold (CPS) was approximately 40 microm in thickness, 7 MPa in tensile strength, and 107% in percent elongation, even though the characteristics varied significantly depending on the concentrations of chitosan and glycerol. SEM of the CPSs showed a very smooth surface as compared with that of the paper patches. These CPSs showed no cytotoxicity and had a stimulating effect on the proliferation of TM cells in in vitro study. In in vivo study, 4 (21.1%) and 17 (89.5%) TMs out of 19 adult rats with CPSs showed no perforations at 1 and 2 weeks, respectively. However, left control TMs showed healing of 0 (0%) at 1 week and 18 (94.7%) at 2 weeks. TEM findings of regenerated eardrums using CPSs showed thinner, smoother, and more compact tissues than spontaneously healed eardrums. A CPS was more effective than spontaneous healing to repair traumatic TM perforations.
Department of Biosystems & Biomaterials Science and Engineering. Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Republic of Korea.
Jang Ho
JH
Kim
Joon-Ho
JH
Bae
Ki Taek
KT
Lim
Pill-Hoon
PH
Choung
Jung-Sub
JS
Park
Seong Jun
SJ
Choi
Ae Lee
AL
Im
Eung Tae
ET
Lee
Yun-Hoon
YH
Choung
Jong Hoon
JH
Chung
D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / Q000379:methods; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000601:surgery; D051381:Rats; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013718:Tensile Strength; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000473:pathology; D018058:Tympanic Membrane Perforation / Q000601:surgery*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D014945:Wound Healing
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D014867:Water; D048271:Chitosan