In vivo study of the effect of composition and implantation site on scaffold degradation rate
10 affiliations
- 1Department of Radiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- 2Institute for Quantitative Health Sciences and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- 3Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- 4Department of Microbiology, Genetics and Immunology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- 5Elemental Health Institute, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- 6Quantitative Bio Element Analysis and Mapping (QBEAM) Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- 7Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- 8Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- 9Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- 10Department of Physiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
Abstract
Tissue engineering requires biomedical devices that stabilize wounds, then degrade as tissue regenerates. However, published material degradation rates are often conflicting. Incorporating monitoring functionality into implanted devices allows real-time assessment of degradation and failure, but requires contrast agents, as most biomedical devices are composed of polymeric materials invisible to medical imaging modalities. Computed tomography (CT)-visible radiopaque composites were created from 5-20wt% tantalum oxide (TaOx) nanoparticles in polymers with distinct degradation profiles: polycaprolactone (PCL), poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) 85:15 and PLGA 50:50, representing slow, medium and fast degrading materials respectively. Radiopaque phantoms, mimicking biomedical devices, were implanted into mice intramuscularly or intraperitoneally, and monitored via CT over 20 weeks. Changes in phantom volume, including collapse and swelling, were visualized. Phantom degradation profile was dictated by polymer matrix, regardless of nanoparticle addition. Foreign body response was dependent on implant site and degradation kinetics were significantly affected in middegrading materials, transitioning from linear degradation intramuscularly to exponential degradation intraperitoneally, due to differences in inflammatory responses and fluid flow. Nanoparticle excretion via liver and spleen lagged polymer degradation, requiring modulation of nanoparticle clearance. Tracking real time device behavior advances the new era of personalized medicine, allowing individualized treatment plans to biomedical devices.
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BibTeX
@article{pawelec2026vivo,
title = {{In vivo study of the effect of composition and implantation site on scaffold degradation rate}},
author = {Kendell M. Pawelec and Jeremy M.L. Hix and Arianna Troia and Niharika Sinha and Keith W. MacRenaris and Matti Kiupel and Thomas V. O’Halloran and Erik M. Shapiro},
journal = {Communications Materials},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1038/s43246-026-01308-5},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s43246-026-01308-5},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - In vivo study of the effect of composition and implantation site on scaffold degradation rate
AU - Kendell M. Pawelec
AU - Jeremy M.L. Hix
AU - Arianna Troia
AU - Niharika Sinha
AU - Keith W. MacRenaris
AU - Matti Kiupel
AU - Thomas V. O’Halloran
AU - Erik M. Shapiro
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/24
JO - Communications Materials
DO - 10.1038/s43246-026-01308-5
UR - https://doi.org/10.1038/s43246-026-01308-5
AB - Tissue engineering requires biomedical devices that stabilize wounds, then degrade as tissue regenerates. However, published material degradation rates are often conflicting. Incorporating monitoring functionality into implanted devices allows real-time assessment of degradation and failure, but requires contrast agents, as most biomedical devices are composed of polymeric materials invisible to medical imaging modalities. Computed tomography (CT)-visible radiopaque composites were created from 5-20wt% tantalum oxide (TaOx) nanoparticles in polymers with distinct degradation profiles: polycaprolactone (PCL), poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) 85:15 and PLGA 50:50, representing slow, medium and fast degrading materials respectively. Radiopaque phantoms, mimicking biomedical devices, were implanted into mice intramuscularly or intraperitoneally, and monitored via CT over 20 weeks. Changes in phantom volume, including collapse and swelling, were visualized. Phantom degradation profile was dictated by polymer matrix, regardless of nanoparticle addition. Foreign body response was dependent on implant site and degradation kinetics were significantly affected in middegrading materials, transitioning from linear degradation intramuscularly to exponential degradation intraperitoneally, due to differences in inflammatory responses and fluid flow. Nanoparticle excretion via liver and spleen lagged polymer degradation, requiring modulation of nanoparticle clearance. Tracking real time device behavior advances the new era of personalized medicine, allowing individualized treatment plans to biomedical devices.
SN - 2662-4443
ER -