Quantifying the effect of pore size and surface treatment on epidermal incorporation into percutaneously implanted sphere-templated porous biomaterials in mice

The sinus between skin and a percutaneous medical device is often a portal for infection. Epidermal integration into an optimized porous biomaterial could seal this sinus. In this study, we measured epithelial ingrowth into rods of sphere-templated porous poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) implanted percutaneously in mice. The rods contained spherical 20-, 40-, or 60-mu m pores with and without surface modification. Epithelial migration was measured 3, 7, and 14 days post-implantation utilizing immunohistochemistry for pankeratins and image analysis. Our global results showed average keratinocyte migration distances of 81 6 16.85 mu m (SD). Migration was shorter through 20-mu m pores (69.32 +/- 21.73) compared with 40 and 60 mu m (87.04 +/- 13.38 mu m and 86.63 +/- 8.31 mu m, respectively). Migration was unaffected by 1,1' carbonyldiimidazole surface modification without considering factors of pore size and healing duration. Epithelial integration occurred quickly showing an average migration distance of 74.13 +/- 12.54 mu m after 3 days without significant progression over time. These data show that the epidermis closes the sinus within 3 days, migrates into the biomaterial (an average of 11% of total rod diameter), and stops. This process forms an integrated epithelial collar without evidence of marsupialization or permigration. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 98A: 499-508, 2011.