A comparative study of preventing postoperative tendon adhesion using electrospun polyester membranes with different degradation kinetics

Abstract

Complications arising from tendon injury include tendon sheath infection and peritendinous adhesion, in which tendon adhesion often leads to serious motor dysfunction. In this work, the electrospun membranes of poly(L-lactide) (PLA) and poly(-caprolactone) (PCL) with different degradation kinetics were used to investigate their efficacy for anti-adhesion toward Achilles tendon repair. Compared with the PCL membrane, the PLA sample showed a faster rate of degradation in 42 d, and all the degradation media (i.e., phosphate-buffered saline) maintained at a constant pH of around 7.4. Meanwhile, the superior biocompatibility of both the PLA and PCL membranes were proved by the in vitro cellular adhesion tests and in vivo histopathological assays. Simultaneously, the PLA membrane was more effective than the PCL sample in decreasing adhesion and promoting functional recovery. Furthermore, the experiment result was further confirmed by hematoxylin-eosin and Masson's trichrome staining, and type I collagen immunohistochemical analysis. All results revealed that the model treated with the electrospun PLA membrane was obviously better with regard to both anti-adhesion and tendon repair than that in the PCL membrane group. Considering the results of degradation and adhesion prevention efficacy, the electrospun polyester membranes, especially the PLA one, would be applied with fascinating potential in clinical prevention of postoperative tendon adhesion.anti-adhesion, Achilles tendon repair, biodegradability, electrospun membrane, poly(L-lactide), poly(-caprolactone)

Porous Polylactide Film Plus Atorvastatin-Loaded Thermogel as an Efficient Device for Peritoneal Adhesion Prevention

“…Many factors (e.g., polymers, pore sizes, porosity, thickness of membranes) can influence the degradation rate of polymer barriers. 28 , 29 Unlike other PLA-based electrospun membranes, we did not observe obvious pores composed of interwined fibers, even when the PLA membrane was magnified 1000 times. This basic structure of PLA film may decrease the degradation rate in our study.…”

Recent Advances in Cell Electrospining of Natural and Synthetic Nanofibers for Regenerative Medicine

“…These polymers are hydrophobic, biodegradable and biocompatible polyesters and can be used instead of natural polymers in order to increase degradation time, mechanical features and cell affinity [71]. Based on the high anti-adhesion efficiency, the PCL, PLA and PLGA membranes were prepared and used in tendon repair [72,73]. Synthetic polymers can be particularly tailored to provide a wider range of features such as hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity and supply a more fiscally rational source of raw materials that can be used as base components for electrospun scaffolds.…”

“…Due to its advantages such as biocompatibility, relatively cheap, eco-friendly and superior mechanical properties it can be used as scaffold in tissue engineering. The electrospun membrane of PLGA was used in prevention of postoperative adhesion [72,81]. In addition to the fact that PLA is more hydrophobic than PGA due to the presence of the methyl group in it, it is dissolved in organic solvents (▶Fig.…”

The Osteogenic and Tenogenic Differentiation Potential of C3H10T1/2 (Mesenchymal Stem Cell Model) Cultured on PCL/PLA Electrospun Scaffolds in the Absence of Specific Differentiation Medium

“…PCL scaffolds have been extensively used for bone tissue engineering, in combination with the use of growth and differentiation factors or composite solutions [ 4 , 14 , 18 ]. In contrast, pure PLA has been shown to be the most relevant polymer for the development of tendon substitutes in comparison with PCL [ 19 ], PGA [ 20 ] or poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) [ 20 ]. Moreover, the tunable morphological and mechanical properties of electrospun scaffolds are of primary interest as tendon regeneration is particularly dependent on these signals [ 11 , 13 , 21 ].…”