Biodegradation, Angiogenesis, and Inflammatory Response of a Collagen-Chitosan-Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) Membrane: In Vivo Model of Guided Tissue Regeneration

The aim of this study was to examine the biodegradation, angiogenesis, and inflammatory response in collagen-chitosan-polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) membranes.This study employed an experimental approach utilizing a randomized controlled trial design. Wistar rats were used as subjects, with 51 rats divided into three groups. Each group received a different treatment: application of the collagen-chitosan-PVA membrane, pericardial membrane, or cross-linked pericardial membrane, administered subcutaneously. On days 0, 7, 14, and 30, the rats were terminated, and the membranes and surrounding tissues were collected for analysis. A histological examination was performed to evaluate the membrane biodegradation rate, the number of blood vessels formed, and the inflammatory response.The data were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests, with a <i>p</i>-value of < 0.05 considered statistically significant.The collagen-chitosan-PVA membrane remained in the tissue up to day 30, while the pericardial membrane and cross-linked pericardial membrane were completely degraded by day 7. The average number of new blood vessels formed in the collagen-chitosan-PVA membrane on days 7, 14, and 30 was greater than that in the pericardial membrane and cross-linked pericardial membrane, which was statistically significant (<i>p</i> < 0.005). The average number of inflammatory cells in the collagen-chitosan-PVA membrane on day 30 was lower than that in the pericardial membrane and cross-linked pericardial membrane, which was statistically significant (<i>p</i> < 0.005) for neutrophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes. However, the difference was not statistically significant (<i>p</i> > 0.05) for eosinophils and mast cells.Biodegradation, angiogenesis, and the inflammatory response in collagen-chitosan-PVA membranes showed better results compared with other membranes. Collagen-chitosan-PVA membranes exhibit potential for application in guided tissue regeneration treatment for periodontal disease.