Cecília A.C. Zavaglia

In vitro study of poly(lactic acid) pin degradation

Abstract An evaluation was made of pins of poly(lactic acid), an absorbable polymer, produced both with very little crystallinity (PLLA-A) and with extensive crystallinity (PLLA-C). These polymer pins were submitted to in vitro tests to evaluate the effects of degradation on mechanical, thermal, and structural properties, as well as molar mass variation. The pins were molded and immersed in a phosphate buffer solution (pH=7.4) for 6 months. The results showed pins with greater crystallinity lost their mechanical properties more quickly, although an increase in the degree of crystallinity for both types of pins was observed over time. Structural analyses showed both superficial and internal erosion after two months of degradation. The greater retention of mechanical properties of the less-crystalline PLLA-A should prove useful in the production of implants where the stimulation of osteosynthesis is desired.

Cranial reconstruction: 3D biomodel and custom-built implant created using additive manufacturing.

Additive manufacturing (AM) technology from engineering has helped to achieve several advances in the medical field, particularly as far as fabrication of implants is concerned. The use of AM has made it possible to carry out surgical planning and simulation using a three-dimensional physical model which accurately represents the patients anatomy. AM technology enables the production of models and implants directly from a 3D virtual model, facilitating surgical procedures and reducing risks. Furthermore, AM has been used to produce implants designed for individual patients in areas of medicine such as craniomaxillofacial surgery, with optimal size, shape and mechanical properties. This work presents AM technologies which were applied to design and fabricate a biomodel and customized implant for the surgical reconstruction of a large cranial defect. A series of computed tomography data was obtained and software was used to extract the cranial geometry. The protocol presented was used to create an anatomic biomodel of the bone defect for surgical planning and, finally, the design and manufacture of the patient-specific implant.

Unsaturated polyester resins: influence of the styrene concentration on the miscibility and mechanical properties

Styrene is frequently used as comonomer for unsaturated polyester (UP) resins. Variations in the styrene content in the polyester affect the resulting properties. Dynamic mechanical tests show the phase separation in the cured resin with an increase of styrene concentration. The dependence of the glass transition temperature of the UP resin on the styrene content is complex and reflects a balance of elastic forces of the network and the immiscibility of polystyrene and UP. The thermal stability and the mechanical properties are governed by the phase behaviour of the mixture and therefore can be controlled by the styrene content.

Polímeros bioreabsorvíveis na engenharia de tecidos

Resumo: A Engenharia de Tecidos consiste em um conjunto de conhecimentos e tecnicas para a reconstrucao de novos orgaos e tecidos. Baseada em conhecimentos das areas de ciencia e engenharia de materiais, biologica e medica, a tecnica envolve a expansao in vitro de celulas viaveis do paciente doador sobre suportes de polimeros bioreabsorviveis. O suporte degrada enquanto um novo orgao ou tecido e formado. Os poli(α-hidroxi acidos) representam a principal classe de polimeros sinteticos bioreabsorviveis e biodegradaveis utilizados na engenharia de tecidos. No desenvolvi- mento e na selecao desses materiais, o tempo de degradacao e fundamental para o sucesso do implante. Os estudos e os desafios atuais sao normalmente direcionados ao entendimento das relacoes entre composicao quimica, cristalinidade, morfologia do suporte, e o processamento desses materiais. Este artigo faz uma revisao dos trabalhos recentes sobre a utilizacao dos polimeros sinteticos bioreabsorviveis como suportes na engenharia de tecidos. Palavras-chave: Engenharia de tecidos, polimeros bioreabsorviveis, poli(α-hidroxi acidos). Bioresorbable Polymers in Tissue Engineering Abstract: Tissue Engineering is based on a group of techniques for the reconstruction of new organs and tissues. Based on knowledge of materials science and engineering, biology and medicine, the technique involves the in vitro expansion of viable cells obtained from the patient on the polymeric scaffolds. The scaffold degrades while a new organ or tissue is formed. The poly(α-hydroxy acids) are the principal biodegradable and bioresorbable polymers used in tissue engineering. In developing and selecting bioresorbable scaffolds, the degradation time is fundamental for successful biocompatibility and biofuncionality. Hence, degradation studies often address variables such as the chemical composition, crystallinity, morphology of the scaffold and the processing of these materials. This paper reviews recent work in bioresorbable polymers used as scaffolds in the tissue engineering.

Synthesis and characterization of poly(L-lactic acid) membranes: Studies in vivo and in vitro

The use of biodegradable polyesters as temporary structural supports in the recuperation of damaged live tissue is a promising area of research. Poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) membranes can act as a support for cell fixation and growth or as a barrier against soft tissues invasion in recuperating bone tissues. In this work, five different types of PLLA membranes, which varied in their polymer–solvent ratio and their content of plasticizer were studied. For the study in vivo, 6 mm diameter disks were inserted subcutaneously in the dorsal region of 15 Wistar rats, and the reactions on rats were studied 15 days later. In another series of experiments the samples were immersed in phosphate buffer, pH 7.4 at 37 °C, for 30 days. Membranes without plasticizer were morphologically dense and did not allow cell invasion nor tissue adherence, in contrast to membranes with plasticizer. While porosity enhanced cell fixation and growth, it made the membrane more fragile mechanically when compared to membranes without pores.

Effect of salt leaching on PCL and PLGA(50/50) resorbable scaffolds

The use of porous bioresorbable scaffolds in the field of tissue engineering represents an alternative for the treatment of lesions and losses of biological tissues. This work evaluates the leaching salt effect of two different processes and polymers. Dense and porous scaffolds were prepared with poly(epson-caprolactone) (PCL) and poly(D,L-lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) (50/50) (PLGA50) by casting and melting compression process. Sodium citrate with particles sizes of 180-250 µm of diameter was used as porogen. The dense and porous samples were immersed in distilled water for 30 hours and evaluated for pH and mass variations, by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The results of the analyses showed that the inclusion of the salt and leaching process did not affect the properties of the scaffold, indicating that the method is useful to make porous scaffolds to be potentially used in tissue engineering.

Biocompatibility and biodegradation of polycaprolactone‐sebacic acid blended gels

Tissue engineering aims at creating biological body parts as an alternative for transplanting tissues and organs. A current new approach for such materials consists in injectable biodegradable polymers. Their major advantages are the ability to fill-in defects, easy incorporation of therapeutic agents or cells, and the possibility of minimal invasive surgical procedures. Polycaprolactone (PCL) is a promising biodegradable and elastic biomaterial, with the drawback of low-degradation kinetics in vivo. In this work a biodegradable injectable gel of PCL blended with sebacic acid (SA) was prepared, to improve the degradation rate of the biomaterial. SA is known for its high degradation rate, although in high concentrations it could originate a pH decrease and thus disturb the biocompatibility of PCL. Degradation tests on phosphate buffered saline were carried out using 5% of SA on the blend and the biomaterial stability was evaluated after degradation using differential scanning calorimetry, dynamical mechanical analysis, and scanning electronic microscopy. After degradation the elastic properties of the blend decreased and the material became more crystalline and stiffer, although at a lower extent when compared with pure PCL. The blend also degraded faster with a loss of the crystalline phase on the beginning (30 days), although its thermal and mechanical properties remained comparable with those of the pure material, thus showing that it achieved the intended objectives. After cell assays the PCL-SA gel was shown to be cytocompatible and capable of maintaining high cell viability (over 90%).

Biomechanical and histological evaluation of hydrogel implants in articular cartilage

We evaluated the mechanical behavior of the repaired surfaces of defective articular cartilage in the intercondylar region of the rat femur after a hydrogel graft implant. The results were compared to those for the adjacent normal articular cartilage and for control surfaces where the defects remained empty. Hydrogel synthesized by blending poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) and poly(methyl methacrylate-co-acrylic acid) was implanted in male Wistar rats. The animals were divided into five groups with postoperative follow-up periods of 3, 5, 8, 12 and 16 weeks. Indentation tests were performed on the neoformed surfaces in the knee joint (with or without a hydrogel implant) and on adjacent articular cartilage in order to assess the mechanical properties of the newly formed surface. Kruskal-Wallis analysis indicated that the mechanical behavior of the neoformed surfaces was significantly different from that of normal cartilage. Histological analysis of the repaired defects showed that the hydrogel implant filled the defect with no signs of inflammation as it was well anchored to the surrounding tissues, resulting in a newly formed articular surface. In the case of empty control defects, osseous tissue grew inside the defects and fibrous tissue formed on the articular surface of the defects. The repaired surface of the hydrogel implant was more compliant than normal articular cartilage throughout the 16 weeks following the operation, whereas the fibrous tissue that formed postoperatively over the empty defect was stiffer than normal articular cartilage after 5 weeks. This stiffness started to decrease 16 weeks after the operation, probably due to tissue degeneration. Thus, from the biomechanical and histological point of view, the hydrogel implant improved the articular surface repair.

Poly(e-caprolactone) and poly(D,L-lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) scaffolds used in bone tissue engineering prepared by melt compression-particulate leaching method

Porous bioresorbable polymers have been widely used as scaffolds in tissue engineering. Most of the bioresorbable scaffolds are aliphatic polyesters and the methods employed to prepare the porous morphology may vary. This work describes and evaluates the in vitro degradation of porous and dense scaffolds of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and poly(d,l-lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) (50/50) (PLGA50) prepared by particulate leaching-melt compression process. Biological evaluation was carried out using osteoblast cell cultures. The results showed an autocatalytic effect on the dense samples. Osteoblasts presented intermediate adhesion and the cell morphology on the surface of these materials was dispersed, which indicated a good interaction of the cells with the surface and the material.

Mg-Free Precursors for the Synthesis of Pure Phase Si-Doped α-Ca3(PO4)2

On this paper, methods to obtain Mg-free reagents for synthesizing pure phase Sistabilized α-TCP were established. The Mg contents of synthesized reagents were considerably lower than those in commercially available reactants. Pure Si-doped (2.5 at.-% of P by Si substitution) α-TCP was obtained by solid state reaction from synthetic reagents at temperature as low as 1200°C. When commercial reagents were employed for the solid state synthesis, a mixture of α- and β-TCP was obtained even when the solid state reaction was conducted at 1300 °C.