EVALUATION OF THE UTILITY OF WOVEN PGA TUBES FOR TH REGENERATION OF NERVES

Abstract

A) Use of polyglycolic acid (PGA) for applications in neural regeneration has been proposed as a means through which sufficient space can be provided by protecting the regenerating tissue from invasion by surrounding tissue. The present investigation examines the biodegradability and safety of PGA in vivo and in vitro, as the first phase in an attempt to use woven PGA tubes for the guided neural regeneration B) Two woven PGA tubes3.2 mm in diameter with molecular weight 100,000 were placed under the skin of each o ten rabbits to observed the process of degradation and absorption in vivo. Simultaneously, identical tubes were placed in phosphate buffer solution (PBS) to observe the correspondin behavior in vitro. Tubes were removed periodically and observe microscopically and their physical strength measured by tensile tests. In vivo and in vitro properties were then compared. C) PGA was biodegraded in vivo as time passed. Through light microscopic evaluation, a phagocitic reaction within the PG was observed. After 8 weeks in vivo, new minute vessels extending along the tube were found. After 12 weeks, PGA almost disappeared. Tensile strength decreased gradually over the experimental period, with strength decreasing faster in vivo than in vitro. The safety of PGA was confirmed by the lack of advers immunological reaction in vivo.