European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Objectives: The objective of this research was a comparative study of the reaction of the
tissues of the anterior abdominal wall to the PTFE-endoprosthesis with a DLC-coating at
long-term experimental stages.
Material and Methods: The study was performed on 110 white laboratory rats divided
into two experimental groups. In the first group, a 1.0–1.0 cm PTFE-endoprosthesis
fragment was implanted under the skin of the anterior abdominal wall in animals. In the
second group, a DLC-coated PTFE-endoprosthesis fragment was implanted into animals.
A morphological study of the preparations was carried out after 180 days of the
experiment.
Results: A morphological study revealed significant differences in tissue reactions to two
types of PTFE-endoprosthesis after 180 days of the experiment. Both groups showed no
acute inflammatory changes, and the differences were related to the delimiting tissue
reactions. The giant cell reaction was observed to a greater extent when uncoated PTFEendoprostheses
were used, and type IV collagen fibronectin was accumulated in them.
The presence of a DLC coating significantly reduced the degree of this reaction. Also, a
significant difference is that the initial PTFE endoprosthesis with micropores is
impregnated with plasma and matrix proteins and subsequently grows with collagen
fibers. DLC-coating reduces the absorption of proteins in the thickness of the
endoprosthesis.
Conclusion: The study found that this surface modification of PTFE-endoprostheses
significantly affects the nature of the inflammatory and restrictive reactions that
determine the bio-integration of the endoprosthesis.