ABSTRACT
The aim of the study is to present the preliminary results of the in vivo application of Komagataeibacter xylinum E25 bacterial cellulose (BC) as a replacement material for produced defects during operations. Three pigs (sus scrofa domestica) had the same defects in the ear cartilage (4 × 4 cm) and in the rectus abdominis muscle (6 × 10 cm) with BC membranes implanted into them. The time of observation of the condition of the animals was 3 months. Implantation sites did not show clinical signs of complications in the form of inflammation or necrosis. Histologically, a normal scar was produced as a result of the material healing into the host's body. In one case, no residual implant material was found at the site of implantation, and the remodeled scar confirmed healing. No systemic inflammatory reaction was observed in any of the animals. The host organism's reaction to the bacterial cellulose allows us to believe that it meets the expectations as a material that can be widely used in reconstructive surgery. Nevertheless, this requires further research on a larger group and also using other foreign bodies. The next step would be an experiment on a group consisting of people.
ABSTRACT
Bionanocellulose (BNC) is a clear polymer produced by the bacterium Gluconacetobacter xylinus. In our current study, "Research on the use of bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) in regenerative medicine as a function of the biological implants in cardiac and vascular surgery", we carried out material analysis, biochemical analysis, in vitro tests and in vivo animal model testing. In stage 1 of the project, we carried out physical and biological tests of BNC. This allowed us to modify subsequent samples of bacterial bionanocellulose. Finally, we obtained a sample that was accepted for testing on an animal model. That sample we define BNC1. Patches of BNC1 were then implanted into pigs' vessel walls. During the surgical procedures, we evaluated the technical aspects of sewing in the bioimplant, paying special attention to bleeding control and tightness of the suture line and the BNC1 bioimplant itself. We carried out studies evaluating the reaction of an animal body to an implantation of BNC1 into the circulatory system, including the general and local inflammatory reaction to the bioimplant. These studies allowed us to document the potential usefulness of BNC as a biological implant of the circulatory system and allowed for additional modifications of the BNC to improve the properties of this new implantable biological material.