Cited by 3Pelvic floor disorders treatmentsSurgical Sutures and Adhesivesbiodegradable polymer synthesis and properties

Ascorbic acid 2-phosphate-releasing poly-l-lactide-co-epsilon-caprolactone membranes enhance tissue regeneration: first in vivo insights for pelvic organ prolapse

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Kurki, Alma, Hannula, Markus, Miettinen, Susanna, Teittinen, Henriikka, Paakinaho, Kaarlo, Hyttinen, Jari, Lindén, Jere, Sartoneva, Reetta·2025·Regenerative Biomaterials

Abstract

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) significantly impacts women’s health and quality of life. There is a critical need for alternative biomaterials for surgical POP repair, driven by complications associated with conventional non-absorbable vaginal meshes. As ascorbic acid 2-phosphate (A2P) has been demonstrated to enhance collagen production and cell proliferation in vitro, this study investigated absorbable A2P-releasing poly-l-lactide-co-epsilon-caprolactone (PLCL) membranes in the first in vivo study to evaluate their potential to promote tissue regeneration for POP treatment. Biomaterials (PLCL, PLCL4%A2P, PLCL8%A2P and commercial polypropylene (PP) mesh) were implanted subcutaneously on the abdominal fascia of female Sprague–Dawley rats, and tissue samples were collected for tensile testing and histological analysis at 1-week, 1-month and 6-month time points. Histological samples were analysed using X-ray micro-computed tomography, histological stains, and primary antibodies targeting type I and type III collagen to assess connective tissue regeneration and material degradation. The PLCLA2P groups demonstrated enhanced tissue strength without increased stiffness, compensating for material degradation through tissue regeneration. Moreover, collagen amount was increased in the PLCL4%A2P and PLCL8%A2P groups, without signs of adverse fibrosis. Our results suggest that A2P-releasing PLCL4%A2P and PLCL8%A2P membranes enhance tissue strength and collagen deposition in vivo, being a potential alternative for POP repair.

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Crossref · 10.1093/rb/rbaf097

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  • PLCL has become an important biomaterial in biomedical engineering due to its excellent biocompatibility, tunable biodegradability, and multifunctional mechanical properties.

    “Poly (L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) (PLCL) has become an important biomaterial in biomedical engineering due to its excellent biocompatibility, tunable biodegradability, and multifunctional mechanical properties [1–4].”

    From Application of PLCL as a biodegradable polymer in biomedical engineering (2026) · cites this paper as [4]

    The Introduction describes PLCL as biodegradable, biocompatible and flexible, and lists several biomedical applications. The Results report different degradation rates and tensile properties for the tested PLCL formulations, but do not establish broadly tunable biodegradability or the claimed range of mechanical properties for PLCL generally. Page numbers are unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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Authors
Kurki, A., Hannula, M., Miettinen, S., Teittinen, H., Paakinaho, K., Hyttinen, J., Lindén, J., & Sartoneva, R.
Affiliations
  • Tampere University (FI)
  • Biomendex Oy , Tampere 33720,
  • University of Helsinki (FI)
Corresponding author
Kurki, Alma
Venue
Regenerative Biomaterials
Published
2025
Volume
12
Pages
rbaf097-rbaf097
ISSN
  • 2056-3418 (ISSN-L)
  • 2056-3426
OpenAlex
W4414379652
Cited by
3
References
73
Citations by year
2026: 3
FWCI
2.19
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Regenerative Biomaterials (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Työväentutkimus Vuosikirja (submittedVersion)
  • Tampere University Institutional Repository (Tampere University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • Research Council of Finland (339405/RS, 336666/SM, 353177/SM])
  • Tampere University Hospital
  • Wellbeing Services County of South Ostrobothnia (1051/7333, 6410/7338)
  • Kymenlaakso Regional Fund of the Finnish Cultural Foundation
  • Tampere University Graduate School
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Rheumatology › Pelvic floor disorders treatments
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Surgical Sutures and Adhesives
  • Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Biomaterials › biodegradable polymer synthesis and properties
Keywords
pelvic organ prolapse, ascorbic acid 2-phosphate, poly(L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone), absorbable mesh, tissue regeneration, collagen deposition, tissue strength, biomaterial degradation, vaginal mesh, connective tissue regeneration, polypropylene mesh

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