ポリビニルアルコール系グラフトポリマーと生体組織との反応

抄録

Poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/methyl methacrylate, PVA/methyl acrylate and PVA/acrylonitrile graft copolymers were prepared by the ceric ion method to study the feasibility of these hydrophilic polymers as a biomedical material. These graft copolymers were evaluated from the viewpoint of tissue compatibility, biodeterioration or biodegradation, mechanical property and permeability characteristics.
These materials were implanted subcutaneously in dogs, removed after 1, 2, 3 months and 1 year, were subjected to a tensile strength testing and the surrounding tissue, to histopathological examination. They showed weak tissue reaction similar to that of Hydron, which is reported to be one of the most tissue compatible material and was used as a control one, and showed about twenty times greater tensile strength than that of Hydron. After implantation for one year little or no deterioration of tensile strength and elongation was noticed as compared with the control specimens which were stored in physiological saline solution at 37°C or in distilled water at room temperatures for one year.
Permeability and mechanical strength were varied with water content or graft copolymer composition. PVA/acrylonitrile graft having 1 to 1.5 ratio by weight and water content of 69% showed permeability and tensile strength superior to those of Cuprophane membrane.
These results suggest PVA graft copolymers will be useful in biomedical applications as a biocompatible, non-biodegradable, permeable and hydrophilic material.