title: In situ cross-linkable hyaluronic acid hydrogels prevent post-operative abdominal adhesions in a rabbit model.
abstract: We studied the efficacy of an in situ cross-linked hyaluronic acid hydrogel (HAX) in preventing post-surgical peritoneal adhesions, using a rabbit sidewall defect-cecum abrasion model. Two cross-linkable precursors were prepared by modifying hyaluronic acid with adipic dihydrazide and aldehyde, respectively. The hydrogel precursors cross-linked to form a flexible hydrogel upon mixing. The hydrogel was biodegradable and provided a durable physical barrier, which was highly effective in reducing the formation of post-operative adhesions. Ten out of 12 animals in the untreated control group developed fibrous adhesions requiring sharp dissection, while only 2 out of 8 animals treated with HAX gels showed such adhesions, and those occurred in locations that were not covered by the hydrogel. We also studied means by which gel degradation time can be modulated by varying the precursor concentration and molecular weight.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, 02139, USA.
authors.forename: Yoon
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yeo
authors.forename: Christopher B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Highley
authors.forename: Evangelia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bellas
authors.forename: Taichi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marini
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Langer
authors.forename: Daniel S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Kohane
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000818:Animals; D047070:Bandages, Hydrocolloid; D002429:Cecal Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002470:Cell Survival; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000737:chemistry; D004848:Epithelium; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010532:Peritoneal Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011817:Rabbits; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid