Effects of different fluid shear stress patterns on the in vitro degradation of poly(lactide-co-glycolide) acid membranes

Structure-function integrated biodegradable Mg/polymer composites: Design, manufacturing, properties, and biomedical applications

Mg is a typical biodegradable metal widely used for biomedical applications due to its considerable mechanical properties and bioactivity. Biodegradable polymers have attracted great interest owing to their favorable processability and inclusiveness. However, it is challenging for the degradation rates of Mg or polymers to precisely match tissue repair processes, and the significant changes in local pH during degradation hinder tissue repair. The concept of combining Mg with polymers is proposed to overcome the shortcomings of materials, aiming to meet repair needs from various aspects such as mechanics and biology. Therefore, it is essential to systematically understand the behavior of biodegradable Mg/polymer composite (BMPC) from the design, manufacturing, mechanical properties, degradation, and biological effects. In this review, we elaborate on the design concepts and manufacturing strategies of high-strength BMPC, the "structure-function" relationship between the microstructures and mechanical properties of composites, the variation in the degradation rate due to endogenous and exogenous factors, and the establishment of advanced degradation research platform. Additionally, the interplay among composite components during degradation and the biological function of composites under non-responsive/stimuli-responsive platforms are also discussed. Finally, we hope that this review will benefit future clinical applications of "structure-function" integrated biomaterials.

Structural optimization of degradable polymer vascular stents based on surrogate models

The clinical performance of biodegradable polymer stents implanted in blood vessels is affected by uneven degradation. Stress distribution plays an important role in polymer degradation, and local stress concentration leads to the premature fracture of stents. Numerical simulations combined with in vitro experimental validation can accurately describe the degradation process and perform structural optimization. Compared with traditional design techniques, optimization based on surrogate models is more scientifically effective. Three stent structures were designed and optimized, with the effective working time during degradation as the optimization goal. The finite element method was employed to simulate the degradation process of the stent. Surrogate models were employed to establish the functional relationship between the design parameters and the degradation performance. The proposed function models accurately predicted the degradation performance of various stents. The optimized stent structures demonstrated improved degradation performance, with the kriging model showing a better optimization effect. This study provided a novel approach for optimizing the structural design of biodegradable polymer stents to enhance degradation performance.

Symmetrical structure design of PLGA Biodegradable sinus stents and structure optimization based on surrogate models

This study aims to enhance the degradation uniformity of PLGA sinus stents to minimize fracture risk caused by stress corrosion. Symmetric stent structures were introduced and compared to sinusoidal structure in terms of stress and degradation uniformity during implantation and degradation processes. Three surrogate models were employed to optimize the honeycomb-like structure. Results showed honeycomb-like structures exhibited the superior stress distribution and highest degradation uniformity. The kriging model achieved the smallest error and degradation uniformity of 83.24%. In conclusion, enhancing the symmetry of stent structures improves degradation uniformity, and the kriging model has potential for the optimization of stent structures.

The role of smart polymeric biomaterials in bone regeneration: a review

Addressing critical bone defects necessitates innovative solutions beyond traditional methods, which are constrained by issues such as immune rejection and donor scarcity. Smart polymeric biomaterials that respond to external stimuli have emerged as a promising alternative, fostering endogenous bone regeneration. Light-responsive polymers, employed in 3D-printed scaffolds and photothermal therapies, enhance antibacterial efficiency and bone repair. Thermo-responsive biomaterials show promise in controlled bioactive agent release, stimulating osteocyte differentiation and bone regeneration. Further, the integration of conductive elements into polymers improves electrical signal transmission, influencing cellular behavior positively. Innovations include advanced 3D-printed poly (l-lactic acid) scaffolds, polyurethane foam scaffolds promoting cell differentiation, and responsive polymeric biomaterials for osteogenic and antibacterial drug delivery. Other developments focus on enzyme-responsive and redox-responsive polymers, which offer potential for bone regeneration and combat infection. Biomaterials responsive to mechanical, magnetic, and acoustic stimuli also show potential in bone regeneration, including mechanically-responsive polymers, magnetic-responsive biomaterials with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, and acoustic-responsive biomaterials. In conclusion, smart biopolymers are reshaping scaffold design and bone regeneration strategies. However, understanding their advantages and limitations is vital, indicating the need for continued exploratory research.

Relationship between mechanical load and surface erosion degradation of a shape memory elastomer poly(glycerol-dodecanoate) for soft tissue implant

Poly(glycerol-dodecanoate) (PGD) has aroused increasing attention in biomedical engineering for its degradability, shape memory and rubber-like mechanical properties, giving it potential to fabricate intelligent implants for soft tissues. Adjustable degradation is important for biodegradable implants and is affected by various factors. The mechanical load has been shown to play an important role in regulating polymer degradation in vivo. An in-depth investigation of PGD degradation under mechanical load is essential for adjusting its degradation behavior after implantation, further guiding to regulate degradation behavior of soft tissue implants made by PGD. In vitro degradation of PGD under different compressive and tensile load has proceeded in this study and describes the relationships by empirical equations. Based on the equations, a continuum damage model is designed to simulate surface erosion degradation of PGD under stress through finite element analysis, which provides a protocol for PGD implants with different geometric structures at varied mechanical conditions and provides solutions for predicting in vivo degradation processes, stress distribution during degradation and optimization of the loaded drug release.

Preparation of 4D printed peripheral vascular stent and its degradation behavior under fluid shear stress after deployment

Shape memory stents are mild intervention devices for vascular diseases as compared to balloon-dilated ones; however, their degradation behavior under blood shear stress after deployment also deserves further attention. To understand the degradation behavior, we first prepared 4D printed poly(lactic acid) (PLA) stents via 3D printing technology and studied their failure behavior in a dynamic condition after self-expandable deployment. Mechanical property tests showed that the 4D printed stents had a compression force of 0.06-0.39 N mm^-1 and a recovery ratio of 85.3-93.4%, respectively, which was verified to be wall thickness dependent. The stents were then implanted in simulated blood vessels with minimal microstructural damage at 60 °C followed by 8-week degradation tests. The results showed the microstructure damage caused by deployment could accelerate the degradation of stents faster than fluid shear stress. Furthermore, we conducted microstructural analysis and numerical simulation on the stent by finite element analysis (FEA) to explain the relationship between stent injury, vascular injury, and stent deployment temperature. A physical model derived from micro-morphologies on the degradation mechanism of PLA was also proposed. These results may provide new insights for the examination of the degradation behavior of 4D printed stents and minimize medical risk.

The differences between surface degradation and bulk degradation of FEM on the prediction of the degradation time for poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) stent

The degradation time is a crucial factor in evaluating the performance of poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) stents. Bulk degradation mode was commonly used to analyze the stent degradation behavior by finite element approach. However, the PLGA stents may present surface degradation more than bulk degradation under certain conditions, which will greatly affect the degradation time after implantation. In this study, the degradation processes of the poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) stent were reproduced utilizing finite element analysis. Both bulk degradation and surface degradation modes were considered. The correlation between tensile stress and degradation rate was investigated. The degradation time was analyzed selectively. The stress distribution, fracture, and mass loss were also compared between bulk degradation mode and surface degradation mode. The simulation results showed that, in both evolution modes, the degradation began at the 'peak-valley' region and fracture occurred at the cross of links and rings. Additionally, high levels of Von-Mises stress were observed in these two regions. Compared with bulk degradation, the fracture time of the stent was delayed by 63% in the surface degradation mode. In conclusion, the mass loss rate and scaffolding period showed great differences between surface degradation and bulk degradation. Based on this study, it is suggested that bulk degradation mode is not applicable to the case of inadequate water uptake mode, such as the tracheal stent degradation process. More experimental research should be carried out to accurately predict the scaffolding period after implantation. The mechanical properties of the fracture zone should be strengthened.

Fluid flow effects on the degradation kinetics of bioresorbable polymers

Implants, tissue engineering scaffolds made of biodegradable polymers are widely used in biomedical engineering. The degradation of polymers plays a critical role in the effectiveness of these applications. In this paper, the mechanism of the hydrolytic degradation affected by the flow medium is studied. The results indicate that both high porosity and dynamic conditions may significantly slow down degradation speed. A critical value of the Reynolds number is found to exist. When the Reynolds number is higher than the critical value, the autocatalysis was suppressed. The models reported in this article might serve as a guide to design 3D biodegradable implants.

Influence of the mechanical properties of biomaterials on degradability, cell behaviors and signaling pathways: current progress and challenges

We have clarified the influence of the mechanical properties of biomaterials on degradability and cell response, and also mechanical design targets and approaches.

Biomechanical studies on biomaterial degradation and co-cultured cells: mechanisms, potential applications, challenges and prospects

This review provides a comprehensive overview of biomechanical studies on biomaterial degradation and co-cultured cells as well as valuable biomechanical ideas on how to design or optimize cell biomaterial co-culture system.

Effect of stress on corrosion of high-purity magnesium in vitro and in vivo

Magnesium-based implants are subjected to complicated stresses during implantation in the human body. The stress effects on corrosion of magnesium (Mg) in vitro were investigated in previous studies, whereas in this study, the corrosion behaviors of high-purity (HP) Mg under stress were comparatively studied in vitro in Hank's solution and in vivo in the subcutaneous environment of rats. Loading devices were designed to apply compressive stress (15.1 ± 0.5 MPa) and tensile stress (13.2 ± 0.2 MPa) on HP Mg specimens both in vitro and in vivo. Corrosion rates of HP Mg were characterized by mass and volume losses. It was shown that the applied compressive stress had no effect on in vitro corrosion behaviors and the applied tensile stress accelerated the in vitro corrosion, thereby causing severe pitting corrosions and stress corrosion cracking (SCC). However, there was no significant change for corrosion behaviors in vivo under neither compressive stress nor tensile stress. Severe pitting corrosion and SCC did not occur in vivo. Histological evaluation revealed that a fibrotic capsule induced by foreign body reaction was formed on the corrosion surfaces of HP Mg in the subcutaneous environment. It was proposed that the fibrotic capsule suppressed the effects of stress in vivo by protecting the corrosion surfaces. These results provided new insights into understanding the stress effects on the corrosion of Mg both in vitro and in vivo. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Mg and its alloys have shown potential as biodegradable metallic materials. During implantation, Mg is subjected to various mechanical environments in the human body. It is necessary to have a clear understanding of different effects of stress on Mg corrosion. However, few studies were performed in vivo. It is important to analyze the effect of quantitative stress on Mg corrosion in vivo. Therefore, in this study, quantitative stresses were applied on Mg both in vitro and in vivo. The effects of stress on in vitro and in vivo corrosions of Mg were investigated and compared.

Biomimetic delivery of signals for bone tissue engineering

Bone tissue engineering is an exciting approach to directly repair bone defects or engineer bone tissue for transplantation. Biomaterials play a pivotal role in providing a template and extracellular environment to support regenerative cells and promote tissue regeneration. A variety of signaling cues have been identified to regulate cellular activity, tissue development, and the healing process. Numerous studies and trials have shown the promise of tissue engineering, but successful translations of bone tissue engineering research into clinical applications have been limited, due in part to a lack of optimal delivery systems for these signals. Biomedical engineers are therefore highly motivated to develop biomimetic drug delivery systems, which benefit from mimicking signaling molecule release or presentation by the native extracellular matrix during development or the natural healing process. Engineered biomimetic drug delivery systems aim to provide control over the location, timing, and release kinetics of the signal molecules according to the drug's physiochemical properties and specific biological mechanisms. This article reviews biomimetic strategies in signaling delivery for bone tissue engineering, with a focus on delivery systems rather than specific molecules. Both fundamental considerations and specific design strategies are discussed with examples of recent research progress, demonstrating the significance and potential of biomimetic delivery systems for bone tissue engineering.

The Effect of Fluid Shear Stress on the In Vitro Release Kinetics of Sirolimus from PLGA Films

Drug-carrying coatings of stents implanted in blood vessels are exposed to various blood flows. This study investigated the effect of fluid shear stress on the in vitro release kinetics of sirolimus from poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) films. The homemade parallel plate flow chamber was used to exert quantitative shear stress on the sirolimus-carrying film. By adjusting the flow rate of the release media in the chamber, three levels of shear stress (3.6, 12.0, and 36.0 dyn/cm²) were respectively applied. For each level of shear stress employed, the release kinetics of sirolimus from the PLGA films exhibited a four-phase profile: an initial burst release phase (Phase I), a lag phase (Phase II), a second burst release phase (Phase III), and a terminal release phase (Phase IV). During Phases I and II, sirolimus was released slowly and in small amounts (<10%); however, during Phases III and IV, the drug release increased considerably. Comparisons of different shear stresses indicated that greater shear stress resulted in earlier and faster sirolimus release, with more cumulative drug release observed. PLGA film degradations (molecular weight reduction, mass loss, and surface topographical variations) were also investigated to better explain the observed drug release behavior. Consequently, fluid shear stress was found to significantly accelerate the release of sirolimus from the PLGA matrices. Therefore, this study could provide a practical method for evaluating the in vitro drug release from polymer matrices under uniform shear stress, and might help improve the design of biodegradable coatings on drug-eluting stents.

The effect of mechanical loads on the degradation of aliphatic biodegradable polyesters

Aliphatic biodegradable polyesters have been the most widely used synthetic polymers for developing biodegradable devices as alternatives for the currently used permanent medical devices. The performances during biodegradation process play crucial roles for final realization of their functions. Because physiological and biochemical environment in vivo significantly affects biodegradation process, large numbers of studies on effects of mechanical loads on the degradation of aliphatic biodegradable polyesters have been launched during last decades. In this review article, we discussed the mechanism of biodegradation and several different mechanical loads that have been reported to affect the biodegradation process. Other physiological and biochemical factors related to mechanical loads were also discussed. The mechanical load could change the conformational strain energy and morphology to weaken the stability of the polymer. Besides, the load and pattern could accelerate the loss of intrinsic mechanical properties of polymers. This indicated that investigations into effects of mechanical loads on the degradation should be indispensable. More combination condition of mechanical loads and multiple factors should be considered in order to keep the degradation rate controllable and evaluate the degradation process in vivo accurately. Only then can the degradable devise achieve the desired effects and further expand the special applications of aliphatic biodegradable polyesters.