Department of Otolaryngology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Wilmer Eye Institute and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
Sci Transl Med. 2011 Jul 27;3(93):93ra67. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.3002331.
Soft tissue reconstruction often requires multiple surgical procedures that can result in scars and disfiguration. Facial soft tissue reconstruction represents a clinical challenge because even subtle deformities can severely affect an individual's social and psychological function. We therefore developed a biosynthetic soft tissue replacement composed of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and hyaluronic acid (HA) that can be injected and photocrosslinked in situ with transdermal light exposure. Modulating the ratio of synthetic to biological polymer allowed us to tune implant elasticity and volume persistence. In a small-animal model, implanted photocrosslinked PEG-HA showed a dose-dependent relationship between increasing PEG concentration and enhanced implant volume persistence. In direct comparison with commercial HA injections, the PEG-HA implants maintained significantly greater average volumes and heights. Reversibility of the implant volume was achieved with hyaluronidase injection. Pilot clinical testing in human patients confirmed the feasibility of the transdermal photocrosslinking approach for implantation in abdomen soft tissue, although an inflammatory response was observed surrounding some of the materials.
软组织重建通常需要多次手术，这可能导致疤痕和畸形。面部软组织重建是一个临床挑战，因为即使是细微的畸形也会严重影响个体的社会和心理功能。因此，我们开发了一种由聚乙二醇（PEG）和透明质酸（HA）组成的生物合成软组织替代物，可通过经皮光暴露进行注射和原位光交联。调节合成聚合物与生物聚合物的比例可以调整植入物的弹性和体积持久性。在小动物模型中，植入的光交联 PEG-HA 显示出 PEG 浓度增加与植入物体积持久性增强之间的剂量依赖性关系。与商业 HA 注射剂直接比较，PEG-HA 植入物保持显著更大的平均体积和高度。透明质酸酶注射可实现植入物体积的可逆性。在人体患者中的初步临床测试证实了经皮光交联方法用于腹部软组织植入的可行性，尽管观察到一些材料周围有炎症反应。
