Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) are two important aliphatic esters known for their biodegradability and bioresorbability properties; the former is stiffer and brittle while the smaller modulus of the latter allows a suitable elongation. The new biomaterials being developed from the blend of these two polymers (PLA and PCL) is opportune due to the reducing interfacial tension between their immiscible phases. In a previous study, PLA/PCL immiscible blend when compatibilized with poly(ε-caprolactone-b-tetrahydrofuran) resulted in enhanced ductility and toughness no cytotoxic effect in vitro tests. There is little published data on the effect of poly(ε-caprolactone-b-tetrahydrofuran) on PLA and PCL biocompatibility and biodegradability in vivo tests. This study focuses on evaluating the behavioral response and polymer-tissue interaction of compatibilized PLA/PCL blend compared to neat PLA implanted via intraperitoneal (IP) and subcutaneous (SC) in male Wistar rats, distributed in four experimental groups: neat PLA, PLA/PCL blend, sham, and control at 2-, 8- and 24-weeks post-implantation (WPI). An open-field test was performed to appraise emotionality and spontaneous locomotor activity. Histopathological investigation using hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) and picrosirius-hematoxylin (PSH) was used to assess polymer-tissue interaction. Modifications in PLA and the PLA/PCL blend’s surface morphology were determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). PLA group defecated more often than PLA/PCL rats 2 and 8 WPI. Conjunctive capsule development around implants, cell adhesion, angiogenesis, and giant cells of a foreign body to the biomaterial was observed in light microscopy. Both groups displayed a fibrous reaction along with collagen deposition around the biomaterials. In the SEM, the images showed a higher degradation rate for the PLA/PCL blend in both implantation routes. The polymers implanted via IP exhibited a higher degradation rate compared to SC. These findings emphasize the biocompatibility of the PLA/PCL blend compatibilized with poly(ε-caprolactone-b-tetrahydrofuran), making this biopolymer an acceptable alternative in a variety of biomedical applications.

聚（乳酸）（PLA）和聚（ε-己内酯）（PCL）是两种重要的脂肪族酯，以其生物降解性和生物再吸收性而闻名；前者更硬更脆，而后者的较小模量允许适当的伸长率。从这两种聚合物（PLA 和 PCL）的混合物中开发的新生物材料是合适的，因为它们降低了它们不混溶相之间的界面张力。在之前的一项研究中，PLA/PCL 不混溶混合物与聚（ε-己内酯-b-四氢呋喃）相容时，在体外试验中提高了延展性和韧性，没有细胞毒性作用。很少有关于聚（ε-己内酯-b-四氢呋喃）对PLA和PCL的生物相容性和体内生物降解性测试。本研究的重点是评估相容 PLA/PCL 混合物与通过腹膜内 (IP) 和皮下 (SC) 植入雄性 Wistar 大鼠的纯 PLA 相比的行为反应和聚合物-组织相互作用，分布在四个实验组中：纯 PLA、PLA/植入后 2 周、8 周和 24 周 (WPI) 的 PCL 混合、假手术和对照。进行了旷场测试以评估情绪和自发运动活动。使用苏木精-伊红 (H&E) 和 picrosirius-苏木精 (PSH) 进行的组织病理学研究用于评估聚合物-组织相互作用。PLA 的改性和 PLA/PCL 共混物的表面形态通过扫描电子显微镜 (SEM) 确定。PLA 组比 PLA/PCL 大鼠 2 和 8 WPI 更频繁地排便。植入物周围的结膜发育、细胞粘附、血管生成、在光学显微镜下观察到生物材料异物的巨细胞。两组都表现出纤维反应以及生物材料周围的胶原蛋白沉积。在 SEM 中，图像显示 PLA/PCL 混合物在两种注入路径中的降解率更高。与 SC 相比，通过 IP 注入的聚合物表现出更高的降解率。这些发现强调了 PLA/PCL 共混物与 poly(ε-己内酯-b-四氢呋喃），使这种生物聚合物成为各种生物医学应用中可接受的替代品。