ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Estimation of diffusion chamber biocompatibility in the experimental model of implantation in the neurovascular bundle
Siberian State Medical University, Tomsk, Russia
Correspondence should be addressed: Ekaterina A. Marzol
Kartashova, 29b, kv. 78, Tomsk, 634 041; ur.liam@3084aytaK
Funding: the study was supported by the RSF (research project No. 23-25-00346).
Author contribution: Marzol EA, Dvornichenko MV — developing concept and design; Marzol EA, Aparshev NA, Mitryaikin NS — data analysis and interpretation; Marzol EA, Mitryaikin NS, Dvornichenko MV — substantiation of manuscript or verification of critical intellectual content; Dvornichenko MV — final approval of manuscript before publishing.
Compliance with ethical standards: the study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Siberian State Medical University (protocol No. CDI-005 dated 5 February 2022). Animals were handled in accordance with the Directive 2010/63/EU of the European Parliament and the Council on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes dated 22 September 2010, rules and regulations of the European Community (86/609EEC), Declaration of Helsinki, and orders of the Ministry of Health of the USSR (No. 742 dated 13 November 1984 and No. 48 dated 23 January 1985).
Polycaprolactone as a material used when constructing nanocomposite structures is sufficiently studied in terms of therapeutic effect and safety of use. However, its biocompatibility in the form of three-dimensional carrier macrochambers is still a matter of debate due to changes in the way the 3D printing is done. The study was aimed to determine biocompatibility of the diffusion chamber made of polycaprolactone after implantation in the rat femoral neurovascular bundle. The study involved mature male Wistar rats. Animals of group 1 (experimental, n = 4) underwent implantation of the polycaprolactone diffusion chamber in the femoral neurovascular bundle. Group 2 (control, n = 3) included intact rats. Macroscopic assessment revealed no abnormalities at the site of implantation and in the target organs. Tissue microscopy revealed no systemic response; the number of binucleated hepatocytes was 1.05%. The stromal–parenchymal relationship values were as follows: liver — 1/33.20, adrenal glands — 1/19.53, kidney — 1/23.65, spleen — 1/26.52. On day 40, hemogram showed the increase in lymphocyte counts by 4%, the decrease in segmented neutrophil counts by 17% and monocyte counts by 17%. These findings confirm safety of using the polycaprolactone diffusion chamber and its biocompatibility when installed in the large neurovascular bundle. However, the effects of polycaprolactone degradation products require more extensive study over the longer periods of biointegration.
Keywords: biocompatibility, diffusion chambers, polycaprolactone, cell technologies, systemic reaction, microfluidic technologies