本研究主要探討以可降解性之溫感性水膠,如聚乙二醇-聚乳酸/甘醇酸之雙團聯共聚物,應用於軟硬骨組織再生中之可能性評估。實驗以開環聚合法,製備多種聚乙二醇-聚酯雙團聯共聚物,經由生物相容性評估後,篩選出聚乙二醇-聚乳酸/甘醇酸(mPEG-PLGA),聚乙二醇-聚乳酸/戊內酯(mPEG-PVLA),聚乙二醇-聚乳酸/己內酯(mPEG-PCLA)等三種材料,進行後續之兔子軟硬骨缺損模式試驗。硬骨缺損模式中:先經由四週之評估期後,結果顯示mPEG-PLGA組之硬骨再生能力優於mPEG-PVLA組。因此,後續實驗更進一步的將mPEG-PLGA複合對骨母細胞生長有活性之生醫材料,如:氫氧基磷灰石(Hydroxyapatite, HAp),三鈣磷酸鹽(β-tricalcium phosphate, TCP)。評估複合植入材之物理/化學性質與生物相容性後,植入兔子大腿骨非癒合型之骨缺損之中。植入三個月之後,犧牲動物體,並以電腦斷層掃瞄(μCT),骨質密度儀(BMD),組織切片染色分析。初步結果顯示,mPEG-PLGA複合HAp/TCP(7:3)者,其骨組織再生最優。軟骨缺損模式中:選用mPEG-PCLA複合膠原蛋白二型或TGFβ-3生長因子之複合植入材,植入兔子膝蓋軟骨缺損之中。八週之評估期後,犧牲動物體,並以組織切片染色分析。初步結果顯示,其對軟骨修復有明顯效果。綜由上述之研究成果顯示:溫度敏感型聚乙二醇-聚酯類之雙團聯共聚物,可簡易複合式多種具骨誘導因子,如HAp,TCP與TGF-β3,並且對軟硬骨缺損有修復之成效,適合於臨床醫療上開發。
The objective of this research was to discuss the biodegradable thermo-sensitive hydrogel, such as methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid), mPEG550-PLGA1405, applies to bone tissue regeneration. Several diblock copolymers were synthesized undergoing ring-opening polymerization process. After biocompatibility test, we chose mPEG-PLGA, mPEG-PVLA ( methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(lactic acid-co-valerolactone) and mPEG-PCLA ( methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(lactic acid-co- caprolactone) to utilize in rabbit bone defect model. Four weeks later, the result of bone defect regeneration revealed the mPEG-PLGA implant experiments were superiorly than mPEG-PVLA implant experiments. Moreover, mPEG-PLGA were blending with hydroxyapatite (HAp), β-tricalcium phosphate (TCP) to form into a implant composite for rabbit non-union critical-size model. X-ray evaluated bone formation every four weeks postoperatively. The rabbits were sacrificed 12 weeks postoperatively then their femur bones were harvested for micro-computed tomography(μCT), bone mineral density (BMD) and histology study. The results validated the usage mPEG-PLGA/HAp/TCP(7:3) as bone graft substitute. We chose mPEG-PCLA with collagen type II or TGFβ-3 for rabbit cartilage defect model. After eight weeks implant, the rabbits were sacrificed and evaluated by histology. The results validated mPEG-PCLA/collagen type II/ TGF-β3 composites can enhance cartilage repair. Summarily, the biodegradable thermo-sensitive mPEG-poly ester copolymer composites were suitable for bone/cartilage tissue regeneration.