Engineering a titanium and polycaprolactone construct for a biocompatible interface between the body and artificial limb

Tissue Eng Part A. 2010 Feb;16(2):717-24. doi: 10.1089/ten.TEA.2009.0066.

Abstract

Intraosseous transcutaneous amputation prostheses may be able to overcome the problems that stem from the nonuniform distribution of pressure seen in the conventional stump-socket prosthetic replacement devices. Transcutaneous devices have had limited success in amputees. By optimizing the attachment of the skin to the prosthetic, intraosseous transcutaneous amputation prostheses may become clinically viable options. This report details studies evaluating the development of a modified titanium construct with a specially machined surface to increase the adherence of tissue as well as scaffold. A computer-aided biology tool was used to fabricate polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds with a specific three-dimensional architecture. To extrude the PCL, it was dissolved in acetic acid to produce a 70% PCL liquid. A scaffold with a porosity of >50% was fabricated to have a tensile strength similar to skin. The presence of a specially machined surface greatly increased the adhesion of the PCL scaffold to the titanium constructs. When the 70% PCL was properly neutralized by heating at 55 degrees C and washing in 90% ethanol (EtOH), there was only a decrease (10%) in the viability of cells seeded onto the PCL constructs when compared with the cells in culture. The antibacterial properties of titanium dioxide anatase, silver nanoparticles, and chlorhexidine diacetate mixed in either type I collagen or hyaluronic acid (HA) were assessed. The addition of 1% (w/w) chlorhexidine diacetate in HA resulted in a 71% decrease in bacteria seen in nontreated HA. These results show promise in developing a novel engineered titanium and PCL construct that promotes effective adhesion between the titanium-skin interface.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Artificial Limbs*
  • Biocompatible Materials / pharmacology*
  • Cell Adhesion / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Humans
  • Interferometry
  • Materials Testing
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Microbial Viability / drug effects
  • Polyesters / pharmacology*
  • Staphylococcus aureus / cytology
  • Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects
  • Surface Properties / drug effects
  • Tensile Strength / drug effects
  • Tissue Engineering / methods*
  • Tissue Scaffolds / chemistry*
  • Titanium / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Polyesters
  • polycaprolactone
  • Titanium