Intravenous injections of soluble drag-reducing polymers reduce foreign body reaction to implants.
We tested whether soluble viscoelastic drag-reducing polymers (DRPs), which modify blood flow in the macro- and microcirculation, affect host response to implanted biomaterials and control biodegradation and tissue ingrowth processes. Porous poly(L-lactate) (PLLA) implants, which are naturally hydrolyzed by foreign body giant cells, were used to evaluate differences in host response. Intravenous DRPs, high-molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) or poly(mannose) (PMNN), were given biweekly at 0.3-0.4 nM in saline (equivalent volumes of saline in controls) to rats with subcutaneous PLLA implants. After 7 weeks, there was no difference in weight gain or behavior between control and DRP-injected groups. Implanted PLLA scaffolds in controls were almost totally degraded and replaced by giant cell granulomas. On the contrary, PEO- or PMNN-treated animals retained a significant part of the implanted scaffold (p < 0.0001 vs. controls). The foreign body reaction was markedly decreased, and there was an increase in well-oriented collagen deposition within the implanted scaffold area in the animals treated with DRPs. The DRP-mediated effects observed in this study potentially reflect alteration in inflammatory events in response to implanted bioengineered materials, and, thus, warrant further investigation.
Marascalco
Philip J
PJ
Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219, USA.
Blair
Harry C
HC
Nieponice
Alejandro
A
Robinson
Lisa J
LJ
Kameneva
Marina V
MV
D000818:Animals; D003094:Collagen / Q000187:drug effects; D005549:Foreign-Body Reaction / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000517:prevention & control; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008351:Mannans / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011091:Polyesters; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011108:Polymers / Q000009:adverse effects; D019736:Prostheses and Implants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D008351:Mannans; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; C097323:polymannose; D019344:Lactic Acid; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C033616:poly(lactide); D003094:Collagen