In vivo evaluation of the angiogenic effects of the multiblock copolymer PDC using the hen's egg chorioallantoic membrane test
Issue title: Selected Papers from the 28th Congress on Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation of the German Society, Munich, Germany, 20–21 November 2009
Affiliations: Center for Biomaterial Development, Institute for Polymer Research, GKSS Research Centre Geesthacht GmbH, Teltow, Germany | Berlin-Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT), Berlin, Germany | Institute of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Abstract: Multiblock copolymers with shape-memory capability attracted tremendous interest as promising candidate materials for smart, degradable implants. In the present study the hen's egg-chorioallantoic membrane test (HET-CAM test) was used to investigate the angiogenic properties of a thermoplastic, biodegradable multiblock copolymer PDC composed of poly(p-dioxanone) hard segments (PPDO) and crystallizable poly(ε-caprolactone) switching segments (PCL), whereby PPDO and PCL homopolymers were investigated as controls. According to our HET-CAM test data, only PDC induced significant microvessel attraction and formation in the contact area of the test specimen after 48hours of incubation showing newly formed blood vessels along the outer edge of the material. In contrast, no newly formed blood vessels were observed around the PPDO or PCL specimen after the same incubation period. These in vivo results indicate that the multiblock copolymer PDC possibly possesses an angiogenic effect and it can induce blood vessel formation in its direct vicinity when it is implanted in vivo.
