Anartificial reticular chest wallmade of biodegradable materials：properties and application in chest wall reconstruction

Wang Xin; Tong Xiao-bing; Liu Chang-ming

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2016.34.008

Abstract：BACKGROUND:Due to their inabilityto be degraded, the traditional repair materials for chest wal defects require a long-term stay in the body. Therefore,severetissue reaction and the high incidence of complications make the traditional materialsunable tomeet the requirements of restoration. <br> OBJECTIVE:To prepare an artificial reticular chest wal using biodegradable materials, and to analyze its performance and application in therepair ofchest wal defect. <br> METHODS:Mixture ofsilk fiber and polycaprolactonewas usedto prepare thebiodegradablechest wal, and its porosity and modulus of elasticity were measured. Twenty-two rabbits were selected to build chest wal defect models, which were randomized into two groups. The artificial reticular chest wal was implanted into experimental group, and polycaprolactone implanted into control group. At 4 weeks after implantation, the chest defect was observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining; at 2 months, the chest defect regionwas observed by CT examination. <br> RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The holeswereuniformlydistributedin the artificial chest wal,withthe porosityof54.4%andthe diameterof200-300 μm, fiber distribution in the material was relatively stable, and the modulus of elasticity was significantly higher than that of the polycaprolactone (P< 0.05). CT showed that in the experimental group,theimplantmaterial was in close contact with the rib ends, and new tissues appeared between the chest wal plate and visceral pleura;in the control group,the material contacted thebrokenendswith unclear border, anda visible high density. Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that in the experimental group there were numerous fibroblasts and a smal amount of inflammatory cels, and colagen fibers were loose;in the control group,the boundary between the muscle fibermembrane and the musclebecameobscure,accompanied by appearance ofedema and more inflammatory cels. These resultsshowthat the artificial reticular chest walmade ofbiodegradable materials can promote the chest wal repair.