A comparison of degradable synthetic polymer fibers for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-1-2010

Abstract

We compared mechanical properties, degradation rates, and cellular compatibilities of two synthetic polymer fibers potentially useful as ACL reconstruction scaffolds: poly(desaminotyrosyl-tyrosine dodecyl dodecanedioate)( 12,10), p(DTD DD) and poly(L-lactic acid), PLLA. The yield stress of ethylene oxide (ETO) sterilized wet fibers was 150 ± 22 MPa and 87 ± 12 MPa for p(DTD DD) and PLLA, respectively, with moduli of 1.7 6 0.1 MPa and 4.4 ± 0.43 MPa. Strength and molecular weight retention were determined after incubation under physiological conditions at varying times. After 64 weeks strength decreased to 20 and 37% of the initial sterile fiber values and MW decreased to 41% and 36% of the initial values for p(DTD DD) and PLLA, respectively. ETO sterilization had no significant effect on mechanical properties. Differences in mechanical behavior may be due to the semicrystalline nature of PLLA and the small degree of crystallinity induced by mesogenic ordering in p(DTD DD) suggested by DSC analysis. Fibroblast growth was similar on 50-fiber scaffolds of both polymers through 16 days in vitro. These data suggest that p(DTD DD) fibers, with higher strength, lower stiffness, favorable degradation rate and cellular compatibility, may be a superior alternative to PLLA fibers for development of ACL reconstruction scaffolds. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Identifier

77950220929 (Scopus)

Publication Title

Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A

External Full Text Location

https://doi.org/10.1002/jbm.a.32567

e-ISSN

15524965

ISSN

15493296

PubMed ID

19623532

First Page

738

Last Page

747

Issue

2

Volume

93

Grant

R01AR042230

Fund Ref

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

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