Poly(D,L-lactide) foams modified by poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(D,L-lactide) copolymers and a-FGF:: in vitro and in vivo evaluation for spinal cord regeneration

The first goal of this study was to examine the influence that poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(D,L-lactide) (PELA) copolymer can have on the wettability, the in vitro controlled delivery capability, and the degradation of poly(D,L-lactide) (PDLLA) foams. These foams were prepared by freeze-drying and contain micropores (10 mum) in addition of macropores (100 um) organized longitudinally. Weight loss, water absorption, changes in molecular weight, polymolecularity (M-w/M-n) and glass transition temperature (T-g) of PDLLA foams mixed with various amounts of PELA were followed with time. It was found that 10 wt% of PELA increased the wettability and the degradation rate of the polymer foams. The release of sulforhodamine (SR) was compared for PDLLA and PDLLA-PELA foams in relation with the foam porosity. An initial burst release was observed only in the case of the 90:10 PDLLA/PELA foam. The ability of the foam of this composition to be integrated and to promote tissue repair and axonal regeneration in the transected rat spinal cord was investigated. After implantation of ca. 20 polymer rods assembled with fibrin-glue, the polymer construct was able to bridge the cord stumps by forming a permissive support for cellular migration, angiogenesis and axonal regrowth. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.