Development and In-Vitro Evaluation of a Biodegradable Biliary Scaffold System for the Treatment of Bile Duct Strictures

Abstract

The main objective of this research is to create a biodegradable bile duct stent system that will aid in the restoration and maintenance of bile ducts that are diseased or damaged. The purpose of the scaffold is to offer a transient framework that will aid in tissue regeneration and repair, ultimately leading to the achievement of full biliary function. Bile duct strictures and infections often require surgery or transplantation to restore fluid and function. Conventional treatments, including synthetic stents and stents, have limitations which includes biocompatibility issues, lack of integration, and potential long-term complications. Biodegradable scaffolds offer a promising alternative by providing a temporary support structure that gradually integrates into tissue while preventing long-term retention of foreign bodies. The development process includes designing and fabricating scaffolds using biocompatible and biodegradable materials that can be Polylactic acid (PLA), polycaprolactone (PCL), polydioxanone suture (PDS) or other bioabsorbable polymers which have reasonable degradation rates and properties. The development of the biodegradable biliary scaffold system with PDS has shown promising results as an alternative to conventional stents for the treatment of biliary strictures. This study successfully designed and evaluated a self-expanding biliary scaffold system that would provide temporary structural support, is biocompatible, and degrades gradually over time, facilitating tissue regeneration without the risks associated with permanent implants.  

Keywords: Bio-degradable scaffold, biliary strictures, tissue regeneration, Polydioxanone Suture, polylactic acid, polycaprolactone and regenerative medicine.