Composite chitosan/polyethylene oxide film for duraplasty in traumatic brain injury model in rats

Abstract

The duraplasty is a standard procedure during neurosurgery for injuries and diseases of the brain. The hermetic closure of the dura mater is not always possible with the application of autologous tissues. Synthetic, allogeneic and xenogenic implants, which are currently used, have disadvantages, so the search for the material that would best meet the requirements for a dura mater scaffold continues. The purpose is to study the physical and chemical properties of the composite chitosan/polyethylene oxide (PEO) film and determine the effectiveness of its application for duraplasty in the experiment in vivo; to analyze its ability to biodegradation; to evaluate the effect of chitosan/PEO scaffold on the regeneration of dura matter. Materials and methods. The experiment used 10 white rats aged 12 months with a penetrating traumatic brain injury model. Postoperative material was examined by macroscopy, optical microscopy and infrared spectroscopy. Results. According to the analysis of infrared absorption, spectral markers of scar tissue, regenerating and intact dura mater were determined. Oscillation spectroscopy data indicate degradation of the chitosan film and repair of normal dura mater. Histology data also indicate biological degradation of the chitosan film and its replacement by newly formed normal connective tissue. Conclusion. The data of morphological and spectroscopic studies show the ability of chitosan/PEO film to biodegradation in vivo with followed replacement not by scar but by normal connective tissue.