Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 February 2011
Non-woven meshes of polyglycoiic acid (PGA) fibers are attractive candidates to transplant cells and engineer new tissue. However, these devices typically lack the structural stability to resist compressive forces, and collapse in vivo. To determine whether these devices could be stabilized by physically bonding adjacent PGA fibers, we have sprayed solutions of poly (L-lactic acid) (PLLA) and a 50/50 copolymer of poly (D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) dissolved in chloroform over PGA meshes formed into hollow tubes. After the chloroform evaporated, the PLLA and PLGA formed a coating over the PGA fibers and bonded adjacent fibers. The pattern and extent of fiber bonding was found to depend on both the concentration of polymer in the spraying solution, and the total mass of polymer sprayed on the device. The compression resistance of sprayed devices increased with increasing extent of bonding, and devices bonded with PLLA resisted compressive forces better than devices bonded with PLGA. For example, under a compressive force of 200 mN, devices sprayed with PLLA compressed approximately 20%, while devices sprayed with PLGA were completely crushed. To determine whether stabilized devices such as these can guide the development of neointestine and neocartilage by transplanted cells, intestinal cells and chondrocytes have been attached to PLLA bonded devices and transplanted into experimental animals.