Effect of sterilization on non-woven polyethylene terephthalate fiber structures for vascular grafts

Macromol Biosci. 2011 Jan 10;11(1):13-21. doi: 10.1002/mabi.201000268.

Abstract

Non-woven polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibers produced via melt blowing and compounded into a 6 mm diameter 3D tubular scaffold were developed with artery matching mechanical properties. This work compares the effects of ethylene oxide (EtO) and low temperature plasma (LTP) sterilization on PET surface chemistry and biocompatibility. As seen through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis, LTP sterilization led to an increase in overall oxygen content and the creation of new hydroxyl groups. EtO sterilization induced alkylation of the PET polymer. The in vitro cytotoxicity showed similar fibroblastic viability on LTP- and EtO-treated PET fibers. However, TNF-α release levels, indicative of macrophage activation, were significantly higher when macrophages were incubated on EtO-treated PET fibers. Subcutaneous mice implantation revealed an inflammatory response with foreign body reaction to PET grafts independent of the sterilization procedure.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation
  • Blood Vessel Prosthesis*
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Ethylene Oxide / chemistry
  • Foreign-Body Reaction / etiology
  • Foreign-Body Reaction / pathology
  • Humans
  • Macrophage Activation
  • Materials Testing
  • Mice
  • Plasma Gases
  • Polyethylene Terephthalates / chemistry*
  • Polyethylene Terephthalates / toxicity
  • Sterilization
  • Subcutaneous Tissue / pathology
  • Surface Properties
  • Tissue Scaffolds / chemistry*

Substances

  • Plasma Gases
  • Polyethylene Terephthalates
  • Ethylene Oxide