Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2016, Vol. 20 ›› Issue (34): 5064-5069.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2016.34.008

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An artificial reticular chest wall made of biodegradable materials: properties and application in chest wall reconstruction

Wang Xin1, Tong Xiao-bing2, Liu Chang-ming3   

  1. 1Central Hospital of Nanyang, Nanyang 473000, Henan Province, China; 2Central Hospital of Karamay, Karamay 834099, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China; 3First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830054, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
  • Received:2016-06-02 Online:2016-08-19 Published:2016-08-19
  • About author:Wang Xin, Master, Attending physician, Central Hospital of Nanyang, Nanyang 473000, Henan Province, China

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Due to their inability to be degraded, the traditional repair materials for chest wall defects require a long-term stay in the body. Therefore, severe tissue reaction and the high incidence of complications make the traditional materials unable to meet the requirements of restoration.
OBJECTIVE: To prepare an artificial reticular chest wall using biodegradable materials, and to analyze its performance and application in the repair of chest wall defect.
METHODS: Mixture of silk fiber and polycaprolactone was used to prepare the biodegradable chest wall, and its porosity and modulus of elasticity were measured. Twenty-two rabbits were selected to build chest wall defect models, which were randomized into two groups. The artificial reticular chest wall 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 region was observed by CT examination.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The holes were uniformly distributed in the artificial chest wall, with the porosity of 54.4% and the diameter of 200-300 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, the implant material was in close contact with the rib ends, and new tissues appeared between the chest wall plate and visceral pleura; in the control group, the material contacted the broken ends with unclear border, and a visible high density. Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that in the experimental group there were numerous fibroblasts and a small amount of inflammatory cells, and collagen fibers were loose; in the control group, the boundary between the muscle fiber membrane and the muscle became obscure, accompanied by appearance of edema and more inflammatory cells. These results show that the artificial reticular chest wall made of biodegradable materials can promote the chest wall repair.

Key words: Thoracic Wall, Elastic Modulus, Tissue Engineering

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