Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2012 Jan;55(1):30-36. 10.3342/kjorl-hns.2012.55.1.30.

Porous Polyurethane Scaffold as a Tracheal Prosthesis Material

• Kim HS
• Chung SM
• Jung SY
• Kim SJ
• Kim KY

• KMID: 2277309
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3342/kjorl-hns.2012.55.1.30

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this study was to confirm the usefulness of the porous polyurethane scaffold as a tracheal prosthesis for repair of partial tracheal defect.
SUBJECTS AND METHOD
A porous polyurethane (PU) scaffold was manufactured by salt-leaching method. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) was grafted onto the surface of the PU scaffold following surface ozonation treatment. Scanning electro-microscopy (SEM) was then performed to evaluate the morphklogy. For the biocompatibility evaluation, a 5x5 mm sized PU scaffold was implanted into the rabbit's ear. A histological examination was performed with the tissue one month later. Polymerase chain reaction for tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-6, procollagen, fibromodulin, fibronectin, and actin was also performed. The tensile strength was measured and compared with beagle's trachea to evaluate the mechanical property of the prosthesis.
RESULTS
The effect of ozonation and surface grafting with PEG was on the porous scaffold was confirmed by SEM and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The histological examination showed a large amount of fibrous tissue and capillary had grown through the pores of the porous scaffold. The inflammatory reaction was not so severe. TNF-alpha and IL-6 were slightly elevated in the PU scaffold transplanted tissue. However, the concentration levels of the other cytokines were similar between transplanted tissue and normal tissue. The tensile strength was very similar with the beagle's normal trachea.
CONCLUSION
The polyethylene grafted polyurethane scaffold is a good candidate prosthesis for tracheal reconstruction.

Keyword

Trachea; Polyurethane; Tissue scaffolds

MeSH Terms

Actins
Capillaries
Cytokines
Ear
Extracellular Matrix Proteins
Fibronectins
Interleukin-6
Interleukins
Photoelectron Spectroscopy
Polyethylene
Polyethylene Glycols
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Polyurethanes
Procollagen
Prostheses and Implants
Proteoglycans
Tensile Strength
Tissue Scaffolds
Trachea
Transplants
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
Actins
Cytokines
Extracellular Matrix Proteins
Fibronectins
Interleukin-6
Interleukins
Polyethylene
Polyethylene Glycols
Polyurethanes
Procollagen
Proteoglycans
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha