In vivo study on the histocompatibility and degradation behavior of biodegradable poly(trimethylene carbonate-co-D,L-lactide)

The aim of this study was to explore the in vivo behavior and histocompatibility of poly(trimethylene carbonate-co-D,L-lactide) (PDLLA/TMC) and its feasibility of manufacturing cardiovascular stents. Copolymers with 50/50 molar ratio were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization with TMC and D, L-LA, or TMC and L-LA. Poly (L-lactide) (PLLA) was synthesized as a control. The films of the three polymers were implanted into 144 Wistar rats. At different time points of implantation, polymer films were explanted for the evaluation of degradation characteristics and histocompatibility using size exclusion chromatography, nuclear magnetic resonance, environmental scanning electron microscope, and optical microscope. Results showed that there were differences in the percentage of mass loss, molecular weight, shape and appearance changes, and inflammation cell counts between different polymers. With the time extended, the film's superficial structure transformed variously, which was rather obvious in the polymer of PDLLA/TMC. In addition, there were relatively lower inflammation cell counts in the PDLLA/TMC and poly(trimethylene carbonate-co-L-lactide) (PLLA/TMC) groups at different time points in comparison with those in the PLLA group. The differences were of statistical significance (P < 0.05) in the group of PDLLA/TMC vs. PLLA, and the group of PLLA/TMC vs. PLLA, but not within the PDLLA/TMC and PLLA/TMC groups (P > 0.05). These results suggested that the polymer of PDLLA/TMC (50/50) with favorable degradation performance and histocompatibility is fully biodegradable and suitable for manufacturing implanted cardiovascular stents.