title: Feasibility of biodegradable PLGA common bile duct stents: an in vitro and in vivo study.
abstract: The current study investigates the feasibility of using a biodegradable polymeric stent in common bile duct (CBD) repair and reconstruction. Here, poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA, molar ratio LA/GA = 80/20) was processed into a circular tube- and dumbbell-shaped specimens to determine the in vitro degradation behavior in bile. The morphology, weight loss, and molecular weight changes were then investigated in conjunction with evaluations of the mechanical properties of the specimen. Circular tube-shaped PLGA stents with X-ray opacity were subsequently used in common bile duct exploration (CBDE) and primary suturing in canine models. Next, X-ray images of CBD stents in vivo were compared and levels of serum liver enzymes and a histological analysis were conducted after stent transplantation. The results showed that the PLGA stents exhibited the required biomedical properties and spontaneously disappeared from CBDs in 4-5 weeks. The degradation period and function match the requirements in repair and reconstruction of CBDs to support the duct, guide bile drainage, and reduce T-tube-related complications.
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Laboratory for Druggable Gene and Protein Screening, Research Center of Agriculture and Medicine Gene Engineering of Ministry of Education, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China. xiaoyixu06@sohu.com
authors.forename: Xiaoyi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Tongjun
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Shaohui
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Yuxin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiabin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jing
mesh_terms: D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001646:Bile / Q000378:metabolism; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003135:Common Bile Duct / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004285:Dogs; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D008422:Materials Testing; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D023421:Models, Animal; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D015607:Stents; D013718:Tensile Strength; D013997:Time Factors; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase