Biodegradable polydioxanone mesh: Preparation, optimization and in vivo degradation / 第二军医大学学报

ABSTRACT

Objective: To prepare a novel surgery mesh made of polydioxanone(PDO) and to study its in vivo degradation properties and the related tissue reaction, so as to provide reference for future clinical application. Methods: PDO mesh was plain-woven and was coated with collagen and chitosan, then they were implanted into the dorsal muscle of rabbits for 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, and 24 weeks. Rabbits implanted with pure PDO mesh served as control. The degradation process of implanted materials, tissue-material interface, and the biological influence of the coating on the mesh were observed; tissue reaction was observed and evaluated by histological means and TEM. Results: Implantation of pure PDO mesh resulted in mild inflammation and fibrous tissues infiltrated into the mesh; degradation occurred during the 8th to the 12th week and degraded completely within 24 weeks; there was no denaturalization, necrosis, and abnormal hyperplasia in the surrounding tissues. Collagen coating stimulated a fibroblastic proliferation and was reabsorbed within 4 weeks; and the naked mesh was infiltrated by fibrous tissues. The chitosan coating showed a strong inhibitory effect on the growth of the surrounding connective tissues. Conclusion: The biodegradable polydioxanone mesh has an excellent biocompatibility, a friendly tissue-material interface and a proper degradation rate matching to the tissue regeneration rate. The biological characteristics of the mesh can be modified by different coatings, making it a very promising degradable surgical mesh.