An in vivo study of the host tissue response to subcutaneous implantation of PLGA- and/or porcine small intestinal submucosa-based scaffolds

An innate immune response is often found at the site of biomaterial implantation. Since the effective use of biomaterials in vivo requires good biocompatibility and biofanetionality, it is vital that we assess and compare the inflammatory reactions provoked by various implanted biomaterials in vivo. In the present study, we assessed the host tissue response to poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)and small intestinal submucosa (SIS)-based scaffolds subcutaneously implanted in Fischer rats. Our results revealed that the PLGAbased scaffolds resulted in severe post-implantation inflammation, whereas the SIS-based scaffolds induced only a slight past implantation inflammation and a PLGA/SIS-based copolymer yielded intermediate results. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.