Novel Biodegradable 3D-Printed Analgesics-Eluting-Nanofibers Incorporated Nuss Bars for Therapy of Pectus Excaratum

A novel hybrid biodegradable Nuss bar model was developed to surgically correct the pectus excavatum and reduce the associated pain during treatment. The scheme consisted of a three-dimensional (3D) printed biodegradable polylactide (PLA) Nuss bar as the surgical implant and electrospun polylactide–polyglycolide (PLGA) nanofibers loaded with lidocaine and ketorolac as the analgesic agents. The degradation rate and mechanical properties of the PLA Nuss bars were characterized after submersion in a buffered mixture for different time periods. In addition, the in vivo biocompatibility of the integrated PLA Nuss bars/analgesic-loaded PLGA nanofibers was assessed using a rabbit chest wall model. The outcomes of this work suggest that integration of PLA Nuss bar and PLGA/analgesic nanofibers could successfully enhance the results of pectus excavatum treatment in the animal model. The histological analysis also demonstrated good biocompatibility of the PLA Nuss bars with animal tissues. Eventually, the 3D printed biodegradable Nuss bars may have a potential role in pectus excavatum treatment in humans.

Materials Based on Chitosan and Polylactide: From Biodegradable Plastics to Tissue Engineering Constructions

Abstract

The transition to green chemistry and biodegradable polymers is a logical stage in the development of modern chemical science and technology. In the framework of this review, the advantages, disadvantages, and potential of biodegradable polymers of synthetic and natural origin are compared using the example of polylactide and chitosan as traditional representatives of these classes of polymers, and the possibilities of their combination via obtaining composite materials or copolymers are assessed. The mechanochemical approach to the synthesis of graft copolymers of chitosan with oligolactides/polylactides is considered in more detail.

Linear and Branched Lactide Polymers for Targeted Drug Delivery Systems

Abstract

The review presents modern advances in the synthesis of biodegradable polymers based on lactide of various topologies and also analyzes the main methods for preparation of nanoparticles that show promise for the creation of targeted drug delivery systems.

Gas-Phase Fluorination on PLA Improves Cell Adhesion and Spreading

For the regeneration or creation of functional tissues, biodegradable biomaterials including polylactic acid (PLA) are widely preferred. Modifications of the material surface are quite common to improve cell-material interactions and thereby support the biological outcome. Typical approaches include a wet chemical treatment with mostly hazardous substances or a functionalization with plasma. In the present study, gas-phase fluorination was applied to functionalize the PLA surfaces in a simple and one-step process. The biological response including biocompatibility, cell adhesion, cell spreading, and proliferation was analyzed in cell culture experiments with fibroblasts L929 and correlated with changes in the surface properties. Surface characterization methods including surface energy and isoelectric point measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy were applied to identify the effects of fluorination on PLA. Gas-phase fluorination causes the formation of C-F bonds in the PLA backbone, which induce a shift to a more hydrophilic and polar surface. The slightly negatively charged surface dramatically improves cell adhesion and spreading of cells on the PLA even with low fluorine content. The results indicate that this improved biological response is protein- but not integrin-dependent. Gas-phase fluorination is therefore an efficient technique to improve cellular response to biomaterial surfaces without losing cytocompatibility.