The local damage and systemic inflammation induced by a biodegradable polydioxanone Stent implanted in the rabbit trachea decreases markedly with Stent degradation

Serrano-Casorrán, Carolina (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Rodríguez-Zapater, Sergio ; Rodríguez-Panadero, Francisco ; Gómez, Raquel ; Bonastre, Cristina (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Guirola, José Andrés (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Rodríguez, José (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Gregorio, Miguel Ángel de (Universidad de Zaragoza)

Resumen: Biodegradable tracheal stents have been developed to overcome the limitations of metallic and removable stents in benign airway disease. This study evaluated the local and systemic inflammatory response induced by a biodegradable polydioxanone tracheal stent in a rabbit model. Twenty-one rabbits were assigned to three follow-up groups (30, 60, and 90 days). In each group, six animals received a tracheal stent, and one served as a sham control. Clinical status and respiratory symptoms were monitored, and serial peripheral blood interleukin-8 (IL-8) levels were measured. At the end of follow-up, tracheoscopy, IL-8 quantification in tracheal lavage, and necropsy were performed. No deaths or severe respiratory symptoms occurred. Tracheoscopic findings were significantly less severe after stent degradation, with reduced congestion (p = 0.030), inflammation (p = 0.003), and secretions (p = 0.030). Two granulomas and two cases of stenosis were identified. Mean IL-8 expression in tracheal lavage (relative quantification, RQ) was 14,129 ± 3007 when the stent was present and 426 ± 100 after degradation (p = 0.003). Blood IL-8 expression increased significantly on day 1 compared with baseline (p = 0.022) and subsequently decreased (p = 0.034). Inflammatory and structural alterations induced by a polydioxanone tracheal stent decrease after stent degradation.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.3390/ijms27031309

Año: 2026

Publicado en: International Journal of Molecular Sciences 27, 3 (2026), 1309 [12 pp.]
ISSN: 1661-6596

Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/DGA/B36-23R

Tipo y forma: Artículo (Versión definitiva)

Área (Departamento): Área Radiol. y Medicina Física (Dpto. Microb.Ped.Radio.Sal.Pú.)
Área (Departamento): Área Medicina y Cirugía Animal (Dpto. Patología Animal)