Preparation and performance of a bionic spinal catheter / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:The traditional method of preparing tissue-engineered conduit has the defects of complex shape manufacturing and uncontrolable inner space structure, which cannot meet the requirements of some micro-catheters. OBJECTIVE:To prepare a bionic spinal catheter and analyze its performance. METHODS:The data model of the conduit was established using Solid Works software, and platform scan path was generated onthree-dimensionalprinter to produce the bionic spinal catheter with fibroin and colagen as raw materials. Then the water absorption, porosity, mechanical properties and celular compatibility of the conduits were detected. Next, the conduits were implanted into the subcutaneous tissue of rats and taken out at 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks after surgery, respectively, to observe the degradation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The porosity of the conduit was (53.6±1.0)%, the water absorption was (1347±19.4)%, and the compression modulus was (0.60±0.12) MPa. The micropores distributed uniformly with different size ranging from 10 to 240 μm. Spherical or fusiform stem cels survived in the pores and densely adhered to the conduit with pseudopodia. The degradation rate ofthe conduit was 20%, 59%, 74%and 100% at 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks after surgery, respectively. These findings indicate that the artificial bionic spinal catheter has good biocompatibility and degradability.