BIOCOMPATIBILITY OF A POLYETHER URETHANE, POLYPROPYLENE OXIDE, AND A POLYETHER POLYESTER COPOLYMER - A QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE STUDY OF 3 ALLOPLASTIC TYMPANIC MEMBRANE MATERIALS IN THE RAT MIDDLE-EAR

The biocompatibility of porous implants made of Estane 5714 F1 polyether urethane, polypropylene oxide, and a poly(ethylene oxide hydantoin) and poly(tetramethylene terephthalate) segmented polyether polyester copolymer (HPOE/PBT copolymer), which were selected as candidates for an alloplastic tympanic membrane, was assessed after implantation in rat middle ears for periods of up to 1 year. Implantation of the materials led to tissue reactions initially associated with the wound‐healing process, whereas after 1 month not only the presence of macrophages and foreign‐body giant cells surrounding the implant materials but also implant degradation were characteristic for a foreign‐body reaction. Macrophages and foreign‐body giant cells dominated the picture of the tissue surrounding polypropylene oxide. The altered morphology of these cells, the persistent infiltration of the implantation sites by exudate cells, and the premature death of five rats in the 1‐year group suggest that polypropylene oxide degradation was accompanied by the release of toxic substances. Estane and copolymer degradation did not induce tissue responses reflecting implant toxicity, and tympanic membranes given these alloplasts showed a normal healing pattern. Inclusions in the cytoplasm of macrophages associated with degradation and phagocytosis of all of the polymers under study were found to contain iron, silicon, titanium, and aluminum. Growth of fibrous tissue and bone, the latter into Estane and HPOE/PBT copolymer implants, indicated appropriate implant fixation by tissue, although macrophages and foreign‐body giant cells were present as well. Especially the fixation of copolymer by ingrowth of bone seems promising in terms of the amount of bone in the pores and the electron‐dense bone/copolymer interface. The latter is indicative for bonding osteogenesis. The HPOE/PBT copolymer is a better candidate for alloplastic tympanic membrane than Estane, and the use of polypropylene oxide cannot be recommended. Copyright © 1990 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.