Electrospun mats from α-amino acid based poly(ester amide)s: A promising material for the prevention of tendon adhesions

Abstract

The occurrence of postoperative tendon adhesions remains a major problem in the clinic and is related to the loss of tendon range of motion and affects patient mobility and comfort. One way to reduce these complications is to use physical barriers between the injury site and the surrounding area. In this study, electrospun mats of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and L-alanine-based poly(ester amide)s (PEA_ala) is proposed as a possible anti-adhesion physical barrier. Mats with different PCL/PEA_ala ratios and PEAs with different molecular weights were tested. The mats exhibited suitable porosity to allow the passage of albumin, indicating that they are suitable for the exchange of nutrients and cell waste materials. The pore size is in a range below the size of fibroblasts, both in their round and flattened shapes, a critical attribute for interfering with fibroblast entry into the injury site. The in vitro hydrolytic degradation tests showed that the presence of PEAs contributes to an enhanced degradation of the material. In terms of mechanical properties, it was shown that the presence of PEAs contributed to an improvement of these properties in the mats. Additionally, friction tests were carried out and the results showed that the presence of the PEAs in the mats contributed to a decrease in the dynamic friction coefficient. In vitro cytotoxicity tests showed that the mats were not cytotoxic to fibroblasts, but the presence of PEAs led to a decrease in fibroblast adhesion. Overall, the results obtained demonstrate the potential of the developed electrospun mats in preventing tendon adhesions.