Premium
Urethral in situ biocompatibility of new drug‐eluting biodegradable stents: an experimental study in the rabbit
Author(s) -
Kotsar Andres,
Isotalo Taina,
Uurto Ilkka,
Mikkonen Joonas,
Martikainen Paula,
Talja Martti,
Kellomäki Minna,
Salenius JuhaPekka,
Tammela Teuvo L.J.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
bju international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.773
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1464-410X
pISSN - 1464-4096
DOI - 10.1111/j.1464-410x.2008.08203.x
Subject(s) - biocompatibility , plga , urethra , medicine , stent , drug , urethral stricture , urology , biomedical engineering , pharmacology , surgery , materials science , chemistry , in vitro , biochemistry , metallurgy
OBJECTIVE To assess the effect of drug‐eluting properties on the degradation process and the biocompatibility of biodegradable drug‐eluting urethral stents. MATERIALS AND METHODS Braided biodegradable 80 L/20D‐PLGA (copolymer of polylactide and polyglycolide) stents with drug‐eluting properties were used as the test material. The drugs analysed were indomethacin, dexamethasone and ciprofloxacine. 80 L/20D‐PLGA stents without a drug coating served as controls. In all, 16 male rabbits were used and divided into four groups. The stents were inserted under general anaesthesia into the posterior urethra. After 1 month, the rabbits were killed and the urethra removed for histological and optic microscopy analyses. RESULTS Control stents and the dexamethasone‐eluting stents degraded totally during the follow‐up period. Conversely, in both indomethacin‐ and ciprofloxacine‐eluting stent groups, the degradation process was significantly delayed and they induced an increase in epithelial hyperplasia. Histological analysis showed that all the stents induced eosinophilia, but there were no significant differences in the intensity of acute or chronic inflammatory reactions and fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS A drug‐eluting capacity can be added to biodegradable stents. The addition of a drug influences the biodegradation time of PLGA urethral stents. Further studies are needed, to find the proper concentrations and releasing profiles of the drugs to achieve the desired bioactivity and biocompatibility properties.