Premium
In vivo biocompatibility of bacterial cellulose
Author(s) -
Helenius Gisela,
Bäckdahl Henrik,
Bodin Aase,
Nannmark Ulf,
Gatenholm Paul,
Risberg Bo
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of biomedical materials research part a
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.849
H-Index - 150
eISSN - 1552-4965
pISSN - 1549-3296
DOI - 10.1002/jbm.a.30570
Subject(s) - biocompatibility , bacterial cellulose , materials science , scaffold , foreign body giant cell , in vivo , biomedical engineering , tissue engineering , angiogenesis , inflammation , histology , implant , cellulose , pathology , medicine , chemistry , biology , immunology , surgery , cancer research , microbiology and biotechnology , organic chemistry , metallurgy
The biocompatibility of a scaffold for tissue engineered constructs is essential for the outcome. Bacterial cellulose (BC) consists of completely pure cellulose nanofibrils synthesized by Acetobacter xylinum . BC has high mechanical strength and can be shaped into three‐dimensional structures. Cellulose‐based materials induce negligible foreign body and inflammatory responses and are considered as biocompatible. The in vivo biocompatibility of BC has never been evaluated systematically. Thus, in the development of tissue engineered constructs with a BC scaffold, it is necessary to evaluate the in vivo biocompatibility. BC was implanted subcutaneously in rats for 1, 4, and 12 weeks. The implants were evaluated in aspects of chronic inflammation, foreign body responses, cell ingrowth, and angiogenesis, using histology, immunohistochemistry, and electron microscopy. There were no macroscopic signs of inflammation around the implants. There were no microscopic signs of inflammation either (i.e., a high number of small cells around the implants or the blood vessels). No fibrotic capsule or giant cells were present. Fibroblasts infiltrated BC, which was well integrated into the host tissue, and did not elicit any chronic inflammatory reactions. The biocompatibility of BC is good and the material has potential to be used as a scaffold in tissue engineering. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2006