A novel biodegradable scaffold:biological properties and application in bile duct repair / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:A variety of factors contribute to biliary injury that is difficult to be repaired. Stent implantation is extensively used for bile duct injury, but either scaffolds made by metal or plastics can lead to certain adverse reactions. OBJECTIVE:To explore the biological characteristics of a novel biodegradable scaffold and its repair effects on bile duct injury. METHODS:The biological characteristics of the novel biodegradable scaffold were detected by fresh bile, and its degradation was observed at different time points. Thirty Bama mini pigs were included and were randomly divided into observation group (n=15) and control group (n=15). After bile duct injury models were prepared, the control group was subjected to the bile duct interrupted suture, while the observation group was subjected to the novel biodegradable scaffold combined with omentum majus. The biological properties of the scaffolds were observed. Hepatic enzymes and serum total bilirubin levels were detected, as wel as hematoxylin-eosin staining, Masson staining and immunohistochemistry detection ofα-smooth muscle actin were performed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Before and 1, 3 and 6 months after surgery, hepatic enzymes and total bilirubin of two groups were detected, and neither intra-group nor intergroup comparisons had significant differences (P>0.05). Hematoxylin-eosin staining and Masson staining revealed that inflammatory reactions and fiber hyperplasia at the anastomotic site in the observation group were lighter than those in the control group at different time points after surgery. Theα-smooth muscle actin-positive scores in both two groups were in a rise at 1 and 3 months after surgery, and peaked at the 3rd month, and then began to decline. Moreover, theα-smooth muscle actin-positive scores in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group at 3 and 6 months after surgery (P<0.05). These results show that the novel biodegradable scaffold has good biological characteristics and can obtain ideal repair effects in the bile duct injury.