Electrospun poly(L-lactide-co-caprolactone) blended with fibrinogen as an artificial tendon for achilles tendon repair

摘要

Introduction: Achilles tendon rupture Is the most common type of sports-related injury. Incomplete healing of such tendon injuries can result in marked dysfunction and disability. The gold standard clinical treatment is surgical repair using an autograft. However, autograft repair has several disadvantages including limited availability of autograft tissues, and donor site complications. Implantation of a bioresorbable prosthesis into a tendon defect may be a useful alternative method to facilitate [AP1] the repair and regeneration of tendon. Methods: The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of electrospun poly(L-lactide-co-caprolactone) blended with fibrinogen as an artificial tendon on the healing of canine Achilles tendon defects. An Achilles tendon defect (Figure 1) was created by laterally resecting 2 cm of the Achilles tendons from 24 beagle dogs that were randomly assigned to either the experimental or control group. The experimental group was repaired with the electrospun poly(L-lactide-cocaprolactone) blended with fibrinogen artificial tendon, while the control group was repaired with an autologous tendon graft. At 14,30,90, and 180 days after implantation, the tendons were dissected and examined grossly, and using histology and immunohistochemistry. In addition, the micromorphology, uniaxial longitudinal tensile strength, and biochemical properties were also evaluated. Results: The tendon diameters, peri-tendinous adhesion, and inflammation scores for the experimental and control groups were compared over the course of the study. The fibrillogenesis, diameter, density, and alignment of the collagen fibrils, and the hydroxyproline content, maximum load, and modulus of elasticity were significantly improved with the electrospun poly(L-lactide-co-caprolactone) blended with fibrinogen artificial tendon treatment compared with the autologous tendon treatment. Conclusion: The electrospun poly(L-lactide-co-caprolactone) blended with fibrinogen artificial tendon was biocompatible and showed appropriate biomechanical performance, suggesting that it is a suitable candidate for future clinical use. Figure 1. Achilles tendon defect. (A) Creation of a 2 cm defect, and (B) the defect after implantation of an Achilles tendon prosthesis.