The Effects of an Enhanced Inflammatory Reaction on the Surface Properties of Cast Biomer

The ability of a biomaterial to withstand the rigors of the harsh biologic environment is an important consideration when considering a material for long-term biomedical applications. Using a cage implant system, the effects of an intense inflammatory reaction on cast Biomer have been investigated. The inflammatory response to cast Biomer was greatly increased by coimplanting Biomer films with a cytotoxic poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) in rats for a period of 21 days. Cast Biomer films were characterized by weight, advancing contact angle with water in air, attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The analyses were performed before any treatment, after autoclaving and sonication, and after 21 days implantation with the cytotoxic (PVC) in rats. The results of the study indicated that cast Biomer does not undergo significant chemical degradation when subjected to the effects of an intense inflammatory reaction for 21 days. Implantation does, however, lead to rearrangement that results in a more polar and hydrophilic surface, suggesting that the polymer adapts to the hydrophilic environment of the inflammatory exudate.