gms | German Medical Science

126. Kongress der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Chirurgie

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Chirurgie

28.04. - 01.05.2009, München

Angiogenic response to degradable lacto-capromer terpolymer dermis substitutes

Meeting Abstract

  • corresponding author A. Ring - Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery, Burn Center, University Hospital Bergmannsheil Bochum, Germany
  • O. Goertz - Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery, Burn Center, University Hospital Bergmannsheil Bochum, Germany
  • H.U. Steinau - Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery, Burn Center, University Hospital Bergmannsheil Bochum, Germany
  • L. Steinstraesser - Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery, Burn Center, University Hospital Bergmannsheil Bochum, Germany
  • S. Langer - Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery, Burn Center, University Hospital Bergmannsheil Bochum, Germany

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Chirurgie. 126. Kongress der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Chirurgie. München, 28.04.-01.05.2009. Düsseldorf: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House; 2009. Doc09dgch10758

doi: 10.3205/09dgch161, urn:nbn:de:0183-09dgch1611

Veröffentlicht: 23. April 2009

© 2009 Ring et al.
Dieser Artikel ist ein Open Access-Artikel und steht unter den Creative Commons Lizenzbedingungen (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.de). Er darf vervielfältigt, verbreitet und öffentlich zugänglich gemacht werden, vorausgesetzt dass Autor und Quelle genannt werden.


Gliederung

Text

Introduction: A variety of chemical compositions and various bioactive surface modifications have been developed up to date to optimize the biocompatibility of biomaterials. However, the pore size, the interconnectivity of pores, and the porosity are still supposed to be fundamental structural factors that may decisively affect the ingrowth of blood vessels into biomaterials. A profound, and above all, rapid infiltration of the scaffolding matrix by fibrovascular tissue is needed to avoid ischemia, ensure the survival of cellular components and diminish the risk of infection after transplantation. Here, we analyzed the angiogenic response of host skin muscle to novel degradable artificial dermis substitutes using the dorsal skinfold chamber model in mice.

Material and methods: The influence of the three-dimensional structure of the newly designed lacto-capromer terpolymer matrices on blood vessel ingrowth was studied by means of intravital flourescence microscopy. Implant sheets of microporous lacto-capromer terpolymer matrices (group 1= Suprathel®) with a pore size of 5–50 µm and macroporous matrices of the same chemical composition (group 2) with a pore size of 50–400 µm were inserted into dorsal skinfold chambers of balb/c mice (n=10 per group). Dynamic detection of microvascular reaction was assessed on days 1, 5, and 10 after transplantation. Functional vessel density (FVD) served as parameter for vascularization. Blood vessel ingrowth was visualized in border zones of the implant and within the surrounding host tissue. Quantitative measurements were performed by computer-assisted analysis (Capimage®). Experiments were conducted in accordance with the German guidelines for the care and use of laboratory animals.

Results: A transformation of mature microvasculature to a network bearing vessel sprouts was observed within the border zone of the implants in both groups. Increased concentration of perfused, newly developed microvessels at this site was already evident on day 5 post implantation. Quantitative analysis showed significant differences in FVD for implants on days 5 and 10 of the experiment in the border zone. FVD in group 2 (day 5: 188 ± 5 cm/cm2; day 10: 225 ± 6 cm/cm2) was found to be significantly higher (Student’s t-test, p < 0,05) in comparison to group 1 (day 5: 173 ± 4 cm/cm2; day 10: 204 ± 7 cm/cm2). Whereas the intravital microscopy showed a perfused neoformed microvessel network within the border zones in both groups, the FVD of the surrounding host tissue did not change significantly during the implantation period of 10 days.

Conclusion: The findings show that a sufficient vascularization of biomaterials mainly depends on pore geometry of their scaffolding matrix where the three-dimensional structure and especially the larger pore size seem to play a highly influential role. However, both terpolymer matrices investigated in this study did not have an effect on the microcirculation of the surrounding host tissue confirming their in-vivo biocompatibility that was also previously demonstrated in vitro.