Nonadhesive membranes: preparation and characterization of modified PHBHX membranes

After abdominal surgery, there is a possibility of adhesions between the abdominal organs and the abdominal wall. The adhesions can lead to problems such as chronic pain, intestinal blockage, and infertility. To prevent adhesion, antiadhesion patches can be used. In this study, poly hydroxybutyrate-co-hexanoate membranes were fabricated as antiadhesion patches and modified with either fatty acids or polyethylene glycol. The homogeneity and protein absorption of the membranes were assessed. The effects on blood coagulation factors were determined and the adhesion-proliferation properties of human fibroblast cells on the membranes were determined. The results show that myristic acid slightly increases surface free energy (40.7 ± 4.2 mN/m), decreases polar interaction (6.7 ± 0.7%), and has no effect on cell adhesion or proliferation at low concentrations, but does at high concentrations. Oleic acid slightly increases surface free energy (45.91 ± 4.8 mN/m), does not affect polar interaction (11.4 ± 0.9%), and increases cell proliferation at low concentrations. Both polyethylene glycol 400 and polyethylene glycol 8000 decrease cell adhesion and proliferation and do not change the surface free energy of membranes (39.6 ± 2.6 mN/m and 37.8 ± 1.8 mN/m, respectively), but decrease polar interaction (6.6 ± 0.3% and 5.1 ± 0.2%, respectively). In conclusion, the modified membrane is a good candidate for an antiadhesion patch for abdominal surgery.