Multifunctional Microgel-Based Cream Hydrogels for Postoperative Abdominal Adhesion Prevention.
Bo Liu1,2, Yunfan Kong1,2, Olawale A Alimi1,2
1Mary & Dick Holland Regenerative Medicine Program, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198, United States.
ACS Nano
|February 13, 2023
Summary
New injectable hydrogels effectively prevent postoperative abdominal adhesions by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress. These advanced materials show promise for improving surgical outcomes and patient recovery.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Regenerative Medicine
- Surgical Innovation
Background:
- Postoperative abdominal adhesions are a frequent complication following surgery, leading to significant morbidity.
- Current anti-adhesion strategies, primarily physical barriers, exhibit limitations in efficacy and patient outcomes.
- There is a critical need for advanced materials to mitigate adhesion formation and associated complications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and synthesize multifunctional, injectable hydrogels for preventing postoperative abdominal adhesions.
- To evaluate the physicochemical properties, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capabilities, of the developed hydrogels.
- To assess the in vivo efficacy of these hydrogels in a murine model of abdominal adhesion.
Main Methods:
- Conjugation of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and hyaluronic acid (HA)-based microgels with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) via dynamic boronic ester bonds to form injectable hydrogels.
- Systematic characterization of hydrogel physicochemical properties, including gelation, self-healing, antioxidative, and anti-inflammatory activities.
- In vivo evaluation using a mouse cecum-abdominal wall adhesion model, comparing hydrogel treatment to commercial barriers and controls, with proteomic analysis.
Main Results:
- The synthesized microgel-containing hydrogels exhibited rapid gelation, self-healing, antioxidative, and anti-inflammatory properties.
- In the murine model, hydrogel treatment significantly reduced inflammation, oxidative stress, fibrosis, and abdominal adhesion formation compared to controls.
- Proteomic analysis revealed that the hydrogels inhibited the expression of S100A8 and S100A9, proteins associated with adhesion formation.
Conclusions:
- Multifunctional microgel-based hydrogels effectively prevent postoperative abdominal adhesions in a preclinical model.
- The hydrogels demonstrate superior performance over current strategies by addressing inflammation, oxidative stress, and fibrosis.
- These advanced hydrogels hold significant potential for clinical translation in preventing intra-abdominal adhesions and improving surgical outcomes.
