Porous Polyurethane Scaffold as a Tracheal Prosthesis Material

Received October 28, 2011 Revised November 30, 2011 Accepted December 6, 2011 Address for correspondence Han Su Kim, MD Department of Otolaryngology, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, 1071 Anyangcheon-ro, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul 158-710, Korea Tel +82-2-2650-2686 Fax +82-2-2648-5604 E-mail sevent@ewha.ac.kr Background and ObjectivesZZThe purpose of this study was to confirm the usefulness of the porous polyurethane scaffold as a tracheal prosthesis for repair of partial tracheal defect. Materials and MethodZZA porous polyurethane (PU) scaffold was manufactured by saltleaching method. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) was grafted onto the surface of the PU scaffold following surface ozonation treatment. Scanning electro-microscopy (SEM) was then performed to evaluate the morphklogy. For the biocompatibility evaluation, a 5×5 mm sized PU scaffold was implanted into the rabbit’s ear. A histological examination was performed with the tissue one month later. Polymerase chain reaction for tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, procollagen, fibromodulin, fibronectin, and actin was also performed. The tensile strength was measured and compared with beagle’s trachea to evaluate the mechanical property of the prosthesis. ResultsZZThe effect of ozonation and surface grafting with PEG was on the porous scaffold was confirmed by SEM and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The histological examination showed a large amount of fibrous tissue and capillary had grown through the pores of the porous scaffold. The inflammatory reaction was not so severe. TNF-α and IL-6 were slightly elevated in the PU scaffold transplanted tissue. However, the concentration levels of the other cytokines were similar between transplanted tissue and normal tissue. The tensile strength was very similar with the beagle’s normal trachea. ConclusionZZThe polyethylene grafted polyurethane scaffold is a good candidate prosthesis for tracheal reconstruction. Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg 2012;55:30-6