Intervention using a novel biodegradable hollow stent containing polylactic acid-polyprolactone-polyethylene glycol complexes against lacrimal duct obstruction disease

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 12; no. 6; p. e0178679
• Main Authors: Zhan, Xinyuan, Guo, Xin, Liu, Rong, Hu, Weikun, Zhang, Lei, Xiang, Nan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 01-06-2017; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Absorbable implants; Animals; Biocompatibility; Biocompatible Materials; Biodegradability; Biodegradable materials; Biodegradation; Biology and Life Sciences; Care and treatment; Compatibility; Dacryocystitis; Degradation; Drug-Eluting Stents; Ducts; Endoscopes; Endoscopy; Epithelium; Excretion; Fluorescein; Health aspects; Implantation; Implants; In vitro methods and tests; In vivo methods and tests; Intervention; Lacrimal Duct Obstruction - drug therapy; Lacrimal Duct Obstruction - pathology; Lactones - chemistry; Mechanical properties; Medicine and Health Sciences; Physical Sciences; Polycaprolactone; Polyesters - chemistry; Polyethylene glycol; Polyethylene Glycols - chemistry; Polyethylenes; Polylactic acid; Rabbits; Research and Analysis Methods; Restoration; Silica; Silica gel; Silicon dioxide; Stents; Stimulation; Surgery; Surgical implants
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0178679

Lacrimal duct obstruction disease (LDOD) is a common ophthalmologic disease. Stent implantation surgery is one of the most effective therapies. In this study, we intended to find out the satisfactory biodegradable stents containing poly-L-lactic acid-polycaprolactone-polyethylene glycol (PLLA- PCL- PEG) complexes for therapeutic application in LDOD. Stents made of PLLA- PCL- PEG complexes in various ratios, were prepared and used in vitro to determine stents with appropriate mechanical properties and shorter range of bio-degradation for study in vivo. Thirty-two rabbits were randomized into eight groups of four eyes each in advance for test in vivo. The selected stents were implanted into the left lacrimal ducts of 16 rabbits and silica gel stents as the control for the other 16 rabbits. At four points in time (1, 4, 10 and 16 weeks after the implantation), weight loss rate (WLR) of the stents was measured and analysed. To access the change of lacrimal duct, fluorescein excretion test, lacrimal duct endoscopy and histopathological testing were conducted. The stent containing PLLA: PCL6: 4+ 15%PEG was selected for study in vivo. Analysis of weight loss rate (WLR), fluorescein excretion test, lacrimal duct endoscopy and histopathological testing indicated that the selected stent was biodegradable and caused minimal stimulation and earlier tissue restoration in the lacrimal epithelium compared with the silica gel stent used as the control. The study results suggest that the PLLA: PCL6: 4+ 15% PEG stent is a satisfactory biodegradable stent as a promising alternative for therapeutic application in LDOD, which showed tissue compatibility, biodegradation and adequate mechanical intensity.