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Phagocyte responses to degradable polymers
Author(s) -
Jiang WeiWu,
Su ShihHorng,
Eberhart Robert C.,
Tang Liping
Publication year - 2007
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.31175
Subject(s) - biocompatibility , materials science , degradation (telecommunications) , phagocyte , polymer , biomaterial , polyester , lactic acid , polylactic acid , superoxide , biomedical engineering , biophysics , nanotechnology , immune system , biochemistry , composite material , biology , immunology , medicine , telecommunications , genetics , computer science , bacteria , metallurgy , enzyme
Although many biodegradable polymers, such as poly‐ L ‐lactic acid and poly‐ L ‐glycolic acid, are preferentially composed of biological residues normally present in the human body, implants made of these materials often trigger inflammatory and fibrotic responses. Unfortunately, the mechanisms involved in degradable material‐mediated tissue responses remain largely unknown. Using animal implantation and cell culture system models, we found a strong correlation between the rate of material degradation and the degree of inflammatory response to material implants. Furthermore, we have identified that both water‐soluble and water‐insoluble degradation products are potent triggers of phagocyte activation, including at the least, superoxide production. These results support a new concept that slow degradation may improve the biocompatibility of degradable drug‐releasing particles and tissue engineering scaffolds. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2007