The effect of crude drugs on the angiogenic property and dynamic viscoelasticity of PEMA-based soft polymer materials

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the effect of crude drugs on the dynamic viscoelasticity and angiogenic property of soft polymer materials, in vitro. Two kinds of polyethyl methacrylates, and crude drugs (Astragalus membranaceus Bunge [HQ] and Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge [DS]) were used in their powdered forms. And, acetyl tributyl citrate and ethyl alcohol were used in the liquid form. The dynamic viscoelasticity of each specimen was measured after 0, 1, 3, 7, 14 and 28 days of immersion in distilled water. The CellPlayer angiogenesis PrimeKit assay was used to test angiogenesis. Significant differences in dynamic viscoelasticity were observed among the materials. Specimens containing 1 wt% HQ showed higher angiogenic activity than those containing 5 wt% and 10 wt% HQ, and DS. Our results suggest that the addition of low amounts of crude drugs to soft polymer materials may promote angiogenesis in human tissues.