title: Poly(D,L-lactide)-block-poly(2-hydroxyethyl acrylate) block copolymers as potential biomaterials for peripheral nerve repair: in vitro and in vivo degradation studies.
abstract: The properties of poly(D,L-lactide)-block-poly(2-hydroxyethyl acrylate) (PLA-b-PHEA) block copolymers by means of in vitro / in vivo (rat) degradation are investigated and compared to those of PLA homopolymer. Over 12 weeks, we observe mass loss and molecular weight decrease. In vitro and in vivo findings are very similar for each polymer tested. When a short PHEA block is used (PLA-b-PHEA 15 000-3 000 g · mol(-1) , 85/15 wt%), the degradation process is found to be very similar to that of homo-PLA, and to be typical of a bulk erosion mechanism, with no mass loss observed until week 7 and continuous decrease of molar mass within this timeframe. For a longer PHEA block length within the block copolymer (PLA-b-PHEA 15 000-7 500 g · mol(-1) , 65/35 wt%), the degradation mechanism is modified, with a significant mass loss observed at early times and only a slight decrease in molar mass. The latter finding is related to the pronounced hydrophilicity and softness of the material induced by the PHEA block, which allow easy diffusion and rapid leakage of the degradation residues from the material towards the aqueous medium. Schwann cells are found to better adhere on spin-coated films of PLA-b-PHEA (85/15 wt%) than on PLA ones. These results show the potential of such hydrophilized PLA-based copolymers for use in peripheral nerve repair.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Chimie Provence (UMR CNRS 6264), Universités de Provence (Aix-Marseille I), de la Méditerranée (Aix-Marseille II) et Paul Cézanne (Aix-Marseille III) - Aix-Marseille Université, Avenue Escadrille Normandie-Niemen, 13397 Marseille Cedex 20, France.
authors.forename: Benoît
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Clément
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Decherchi
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Féron
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bertin
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gigmes
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Trimaille
authors.forename: Tanguy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Marqueste
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D008297:Male; D008422:Materials Testing; D015394:Molecular Structure; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D011102:Polyhydroxyethyl Methacrylate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000166:cytology; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D011102:Polyhydroxyethyl Methacrylate; C023037:poly(2-hydroxyethyl acrylate); C033616:poly(lactide)