Sprayable Polymer Blends With Short-Chain Surface Segregation for Preventing Postoperative Abdominal Adhesions

Adhesions are common post-surgical complications where fibrous tissue bridges adjacent surfaces following tissue injury. Although Seprafilm is a widely used clinical prophylactic, it often proves inadequate due to suboptimal mechanical stability and applicability. Solution Blow Spinning (SBS) enables the formation of polymer fibers tailored to complex geometries with excellent tissue adherence. Poly(D,L-lactide-co-caprolactone) (PLCL) polymer has shown promise as an adhesions barrier but remains inconsistent because of its inherent tackiness and hydrophobicity. Here, high molecular weight (HMW) PLCL (40 or 80 kDa) was blended with low molecular weight (LMW) polyethylene glycol (PEG, 1 or 3 kDa). In vitro studies confirmed that PLCL/PEG fibers achieved tissue adhesion strengths above 10 kPa and sustained mechanical performance throughout clinically relevant degradation timelines. Blending PEG changes the surface composition of the spray-deposited mats, substantially improving the hydrophilic character and lowering protein adherence in vitro. In a murine cecal ligation model, the PLCL/PEG blends demonstrated significantly reduced adhesion severity and incidence compared to both untreated and Seprafilm-treated controls.