title: Preventing postoperative abdominal adhesions in a rat model with PEG-PCL-PEG hydrogel.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Poly (ethylene glycol)-poly (ɛ-caprolactone)-poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG-PCL-PEG, PECE) hydrogel has been demonstrated to be biocompatible and thermosensitive. In this study, its potential efficacy and mechanisms of preventing postsurgical abdominal adhesions were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PECE hydrogel was transformed into gel state from sol state in less than 20 seconds at 37°C. None of the animals treated with the hydrogel (n = 15) developed adhesions. In contrast, all untreated animals (n = 15) had adhesions that could only be separated by sharp dissection (P < 0.001). The hydrogel adhered to the peritoneal wounds, gradually disappeared from the wounds within 7 days, and transformed into viscous fluid, being completely absorbed within 12 days. The parietal and visceral peritoneum were remesothelialized in about 5 and 9 days, respectively. The hydrogel prevented the formation of fibrinous adhesion and the invasion of fibroblasts. Also, along with the hydrogel degradation, a temporary inflammatory cell barrier was formed which could effectively delay the invasion of fibroblasts during the critical period of mesothelial regeneration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggested that PECE hydrogel could effectively prevent postsurgical intra-abdominal adhesions, which possibly result from the prevention of the fibrinous adhesion formation and the fibroblast invasion, the promotion of the remesothelialization, and the hydroflotation effect.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: ChangYang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: ShengTao
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: ZhengYu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: XiaoRong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: ZhiYong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Qian
mesh_terms: D034841:Abdominal Cavity / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000473:pathology; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D044367:Phase Transition; D011091:Polyesters / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013696:Temperature; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011091:Polyesters; C502908:poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(caprolactone)-poly(ethylene glycol); D011092:Polyethylene Glycols