Objective To investigate the effects of chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nerve conduits for repairing radial nerve defect in Macaques. Methods Twelve adult Macaques weighing 3.26-5.35 kg were made the models of radial nerve defect (2 cm in length) and were randomly divided into 3 groups according to nerve grafting, with 4 Macaques in each group. Chitosan/PVA nerve conduit, non-graft, and autografts were implanted in the defects in groups A, B, and C, respectively. And the right radial nerves were used as normal control. At 8 months postoperatively, the general observation,electrophysiological methods, and histological examination were performed. Results At 8 months postoperatively, theregenerated nerve bridged the radial nerve defect in group A, but no obvious adhesion was observed between the tube and the peripheral tissue. The regenerated nerve had not bridged the sciatic nerve defect in group B. The adhesions between the implanted nerve and the peri pheral tissue were significant in group C. Compound muscle action potentials (CMAP) were detected in group A and group C, and no CMAP in group B. Peak ampl itude showed a significantly higher value in normal control than in groups A and C (P lt; 0.05), but there was no significant difference between groups A and C (P gt; 0.05). Nerve conduction velocity and latency were better in normal control than in groups A and C, and in group C than in group A, all showing significant differences (Plt; 0.05). The density of myl inated fibers in groups A and C was significantly lower than that in normal control (P lt; 0.05), but there was no significant difference between groups A and C (P gt; 0.05). The diameter and the myel in sheath thickness of the myl inated fibers in normal control were significantly higher than those in groups A and C, and in group C than in group A, all showing significant differences (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion The chitosan/PVA nerve conduits can promote the peripheral nerve regeneration, and may promise alternative to nerve autograft for repairing peripheral nerve defects.
Objective To investigate the cellular compatibil ity of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/wild antheraea pernyisilk fibroin (WSF), and to explore the feasibil ity for tendon tissue engineering scaffold in vitro. Methods The solutions of WSF (11%), PVA (11%), and PVA/WSF (11%) were prepared with 98% formic acid (mass fraction) at a mass ratio of 9 : 1. The electrospinning membranes of WSF, PVA, and PVA/WSF were prepared by electrostatic spinning apparatus. The morphologies of scaffolds were evaluated using scanning electronic microscope (SEM). The tendon cells were isolated from tail tendon of 3-dayold Sprague Dawley rats in vitro. The experiment was performed using the 3rd generation cells. The tendon cells (1 × 106/mL) were cocultured with PVA and PVA/WSF electrospinning film, respectively, and MTT test was used to assess the cell adhesion rate 4, 12 hours after coculture. The tendon cells were cultured in PVA and PVA/WSF extraction medium of different concentration (1, 1/2, and 1/4), respectively; and the absorbance (A) values were detected at 1, 3, 5, and 7 days to evaluate the cytotoxicity. The composite of tendon cells and the PVA or PVA/WSF scaffold were observed by HE staining at 7 days and characterized by SEM at 1,3, 5, and 7 days. Results The solution of WSF could not be used to electrospin; and the solution of PVA and PVA/WSF could be electrospun. After coculture of tendon and PVA or PVA/WSF electrospinning membranes, the cell adhesion rates were 26.9% ±0.4% and 87.0% ± 1.0%, respectively for 4 hours, showing significant difference (t=100.400, P=0.000); the cell adhesion rates were 35.2% ± 0.6% and 110.0% ± 1.7%, respectively for 12 hours, showing significant difference (t=42.500, P=0.000). The cytotoxicity of PVA/WSF was less significantly than that of PVA (P lt; 0.05) and significant difference was observed between 1/2 PVA and 1/4PVA (P lt; 0.05). HE staining and SEM images showed that the tendon cells could adhere to PVA and PVA/WSF scaffolds, but that the cells grew better in PVA/WSF scaffold than in PVA scaffold in vitro. Conclusion PVA/WSF electrospinning membrane scaffold has good cell compatibility, and it is expected to be an ideal scaffold of tendon tissue engineering.
To evaluate the cytocompatibil ity of Arg-Gly-Asp-recombinant spider silk protein (pNSR16) / poly vinyl alcohol (PVA) through in vitro cytotoxicity experiment and cell-material co-culture experiment. Methods pNSR16/PVA scaffold and its extraction were prepared by using solvent casting/particulate leaching method, and NIH-3T3 cells were cultivated with the extraction in vitro. The cytotoxicity of scaffold was analyzed using MTT assay 1, 3 and 5 days after culture. Scanning electron microscope and HE staining observation were conducted 2, 4 and 6 days after culturing NIH-3T3 cells on the pNSR16/PVA scaffold. Immunohistochemistry detection was performed 6 days after co-culture. Adhesion, growthand expression of the cells on the scaffold were observed. Results The cytotoxicity of pNSR16/PVA scaffold was in grade 0. Scanning electron microscope observation: the cells covered the surface of the scaffold and were arranged in a directional manner 4 days after co-culture. HE staining: the cells adhered to and grew on the surface of scaffold, and migrated into the scaffold with the increase of culture duration. Immunohistochemistry detection: bFGF was secreted by NIH-3T3 cells, and the cells differentiated normally. Conclusion pNSR16/PVA scaffold has a satisfactory cytocompatibil ity and may be an ideal tissue engineered scaffold materia
Objective To prepare carboxymethyl-chitosan/hyaluronic acid/poly(vinyl alcohol) (CHP) blend membrane, evaluate its physicochemical properties and intraocular biocompatibil ity and to investigate its feasibil ity to be appl ied to glaucoma filtering surgery. Methods CHP blend membrane was prepared using solution casting method after blending carboxymethyl-chitosan, HA and poly(vinyl alcohol) in a proportion of 5 ∶ 4 ∶ 1 (M/M). Its water absorption rate, swell ing rate, permeabil ity, and mechanical properties were detected. Subconjunctival fibroblasts separated from subconjuncitival tissue of New Zealand white rabbits were cultured, and the cells at passage 4 were cultured on cell culture plate with or without the CHP blend membrane, serving as the experimental group and the control group, respectively. Effectof the CHP blend membrane on the subconjunctival fibroblasts was tested by MTT method 24, 48, and 72 hours after culture. Six New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into two groups (n=3 rabbits per group), and the CHP blend membrane and SK gel were implanted into the rabbits’ subconjunctival space and anterior chamber in the experimental group and the control group, respectively. Sl it lamp observation and binocular reaction record were conducted 1, 3, 5, 9, 11, 20, 30, 45, and 60 days after operation. Corneal tissue harvested from the experimental group was observed using scanning electron microscope 15 days after operation to study ophthalmic biocompatibil ity and biodegradabil ity. Results The water absorption rate and the swell ing rate of the CHP blend membrane was 83.8% ± 1.3% and 3.59 ± 0.50, respectively. The tensile strength of the dry and the wet CHP blend membrane was (20.59 ± 1.73) and (0.51 ± 0.13) MPa, respectively. The breaking elongation rate of the dry and the wet CHP blend membcane was 10.69% ± 1.16% and 53.15% ± 2.46%, respectively. The CHP blend membrane had good permeabil ity to NaCl and L-tyrosine. Absorbance (A) value of the experimental group 24, 48, and 72 hours after breeding was 0.207 ± 0.083, 0.174 ± 0.080, and 0.181 ± 0.048, respectively, while the A value of the control group was 0.284 ± 0.011, 0.272 ± 0.083, and 0.307 ± 0.056, respectively. Significant difference was evident between two groups (P lt; 0.05). In the experimental group, a small amount of floccus was exuded around the implanted membrane 1 day after operation; the floccus was absorbed on the third day, and there was no obvious inflammatory reaction occurring on the eleventh day. Most of the membrane degraded on the sixtieth day. Scanning electron microscope observation showed that the hexagonal morphology of the corneal endothel ial cells was intact, and no degradation particles adhered to the surface. In the control group, the implantation of SK gel into anterior chamber was unsuccessful because the SK gel was quite soft and easily broken. In the experimental group, mild hyperemia emerged around the implanted membrane 1 day after the subconjunctival implantation of the membrane, and it became normal on the ninth day. No corneal edema and inflammatory reaction of anterior chamber occurred till the sixtieth day. The results in the control group and the experiment group were similar. Conclusion Due to its good physicochemical properties and biocompatibil ity, the CHP blend membrane has potential appl ications in glaucomafiltering surgery.
To develop a novel biodegradable collagen-chitosan-[poly(vinyl alcohol), PVA] composite artificial lacrimal canal iculus for treating tear overflowing (epiphora) caused by canal icular obstruction. Methods Homogeneously mixing solution composed of collagen, chitosan and PVA with different ratios was prepared. After several cycles of freezing/thawing process, the mixing solution was transferred into elastic hydrogel. Then the hydrogel was rinsed, punctured, dehydrated and trimmed, and three groups (T1, T2 and T3) of novel artificial lacrimal canal iculus were obtained. The appearance and diameter of all samples were observed under optical microscopy. The cross-section before and after drying as well as phase distribution of sample T2 was observed by SEM. The water absorption ratio and expanding ratio in PBS solution were calculated from three swell ing behavior curves. The degradabil ity of groups T1, T2 and T3 were prel iminary analyzed by degradation experiment in vitro. Results The micro-tubes with 0.5-0.7 mm in inner diameter, 0.9-1.5 mm in outer diameter and more than 20 mm in length were fabricated successfully through physical crossl inking without addition of toxic cross-l inker. SEM result showed that the sample had uniform phase distribution and smooth surface at dried state as well as interpenetrate network structure at hydrogel state. It was seen from the swell ing behavior curves that groups T1, T2 and T3 swelled rapidly within 10-30 minutes, and formed elastic composite hydrogel pipes. In addition, the expanding ratio of inner and outer diameter of the tube was 20%-30% and 100%-120% with swell ing, respectively. The equil ibrium water content of the hydrogel pipes increased with increase of collagen composition. Three groups of samples were immerged in PBS solution contained 2 mg/mL lysozyme at 37 for 1 month, their nozzle cracked, their wall became thin and more transparent. And also, there was small floc deposited on the tube surface. The samples were degraded into mash after they were soaked in PBS solution at 70 for 2 days. Conclusion The novel artificial lacrimal canal iculus with good mechanical property and high water absorption is in favor of operation, tear passing and anti-conglutination. It will be a potential candidate for treating the lacrimal passage occlusion.
Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel was made for simulating human's soft tissue in our experiment. The image acquisition device is composed of an optical platform, a camera and its bracket and a light source. In order to study the law of soft tissue deformation under flexible needle insertion, markers were embedded into the soft tissue and their displacements were recorded. Based on the analysis of displacements of markers in X direction and Y direction, back propagation (BP) neural network was employed to model the displacement of Y direction for the markers. Compared to the experimental data, fitting degree of the neural network model was above 95%, the maximum relative error for valid data was limited to 30%, and the maximum absolute error was 0.8 mm. The BP neural network model was beneficial for predicting soft tissue deformation quantitatively. The results showed that the model could effectively improve the accuracy of flexible needle insertion into soft tissue.
A drug vaccarin loaded polymer poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA)-stilbazole quaternized (SbQ)/Zein was prepared in this study, using co-electrospun method. Then the morphologies and structures of PVA-SbQ/Zein composite nanofibers were observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectrum (FTIR), respectively. Finally, biocompatibility of PVA-SbQ/Zein nanofibers with drug and without drug was evaluated. Results showed that vaccarin-loaded PVA-SbQ/Zein nanofibers had smooth surface and showed non-toxic to L929 cells. Drug vaccarin could promote cells attachment on nanofibers. The wound healing performance was examined in vivo by rat skin models and histological observations, and PVA-SbQ/Zein/vaccarin nanofibers showed better wound healing performance than petrolatum gauze group.