Abstract
Purpose: Intervertebral disk degeneration is the main cause of chronic back pain. Disk degeneration often leads to tearing of the annulus fibrosus (AF) and extrusion of the nucleus pulposus (NP), which compresses the nerves. Current treatment involves removing the herniated NP and suturing the damaged AF tissue. This surgical approach has several drawbacks. In this study, we designed a biodegradable AF closure system comprising a tissue engineering scaffold, a supporting membrane and an adhesive material, to not only restore the function of the herniated disc but also to promote tissue regeneration.
Materials and Methods: Porous scaffolds with precisely defined architectures were built by stereolithography using resins based on poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC) macromers functionalized with methacrylate endgroups. In addition, a porous photo-cross-linked PTMC membrane was developed that can be used to keep the scaffold in place in the AF tissue. Results: After synthesis and characterization, the components of the implant are glued together and to the AF tissue using a diisocyanate glue based on polyethylene glycol–PTMC triblock copolymers. The adhesion strengths of the materials to each other and to AF tissue were determined in lap-shear tests.
Conclusions: This study showed that a device for AF tissue engineering can be prepared from PTMC-based scaffolds, membranes and glues.
J Appl Biomater Funct Mater 2012; 10(3): 177 - 184
Article Type: ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE
DOI:10.5301/JABFM.2012.10354
Authors
Sébastien B.G. Blanquer, Shahriar Sharifi, Dirk W. Grijpma
Article History
- • Accepted on 22/10/2012
- • Available online on 11/12/2012
- • Published in print on 13/02/2013
This article is available as full text PDF.
Authors
- Blanquer, Sébastien B.G.
[PubMed]
[Google Scholar]
Department of Biomaterials Science and Technology, University of Twente, Enschede - The Netherlands
- Sharifi, Shahriar
[PubMed]
[Google Scholar]
Department of Biomedical Engineering, University Medical Centre Groningen and University of Groningen, ?Groningen - The Netherlands
- Grijpma, Dirk W.
[PubMed]
[Google Scholar]
Department of Biomaterials Science and Technology, University of Twente, Enschede - The Netherlands and Department of Biomedical Engineering, University Medical Centre Groningen and University of Groningen, Groningen - The Netherlands
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