AB168. Evaluation of the biocompatibility of packing materials for a catheter

OBJECTIVE: The necessity for biocompatible packing materials has become important as the increasing of using implantable medical devices. In this study, we investigated the biocompatibility of platinum-catalyzed silicone (Ecoflex(®)) as a packing material in the rats. METHODS: Twenty 12-week white male Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this study. The rats were assigned to four experimental groups: control, non-coating metal, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), and Ecoflex(®). After a ball-shaped materials coated with PDMS and Ecoflex(®) were implanted into the bladder of rats, we compared the biocompatibility of non-coating metal, PDMS, and Ecoflex(®) by analyzing changes in the levels of macrophages and inflammatory cytokines in the bladder. RESULTS: Increased macrophage activity in the urothelium of the bladder was observed in PDMS and Ecoflex(®). However, the increasing macrophage activity in PDMS and Ecoflex was not higher than non-coating metal (P<0.05). Increased inflammatory cytokine such as IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in PDMS and Ecoflex(®) were showed significantly difference compared with those of non-coating metal (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In our study, we suggested that PDMS and Ecoflex(®) might be used as safe packing materials for a catheter-intergrated bladder pressure sensor.