Bacterial cellulose: long-term biocompatibility studies.
J Biomater Sci Polym Ed
; 23(10): 1339-54, 2012.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-21722421
ABSTRACT
The bacterial cellulose (BC) secreted by Gluconacetobacter xylinus is a network of pure cellulose nanofibres which has high crystallinity, wettability and mechanical strength. These characteristics make BC an excellent material for tissue-engineering constructs, noteworthy for artificial vascular grafts. In this work, the in vivo biocompatibility of BC membranes produced by two G. xylinus strains was analyzed through histological analysis of long-term subcutaneous implants in the mice. The BC implants caused a mild and benign inflammatory reaction that decreased along time and did not elicit a foreign body reaction. A tendency to calcify over time, which may be related to the porosity of the BC implants, was observed, especially among the less porous BC-1 implants. In addition, the potential toxicity of BC nanofibres - obtained by chemical-mechanical treatment of BC membranes - subcutaneously implanted in mice was analysed through bone marrow flow cytometry and histological analyses. At 2 and 4 months post-implantation, the nanofibres implants were found to accumulate intracellularly, in subcutaneous foamy macrophages aggregates. Moreover, no differences were observed between the controls and implanted animals in thymocyte populations and in B lymphocyte precursors and myeloid cells in the bone marrow.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Celulosa
/
Gluconacetobacter xylinus
/
Nanofibras
Límite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Biomater Sci Polym Ed
Asunto de la revista:
ENGENHARIA BIOMEDICA
Año:
2012
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Portugal