Prevention of post-surgical peritoneal adhesion in rats using curdlan and gellan gum hydrogels

摘要

The prevention of undesired abdominal wall adhesion after surgery was investigated using polysaccharide hydrogels as physical barriers. Hydrogels of curdlan, gellan gum, and a mixture of the two were prepared as films and their swelling, degradation, and gel strength were measured. The hydrogels were applied to 1×2 cm2 abraded areas of the peritonea and ceca of rats. The hydrogel extracts showed no cytotoxicity to RAW 264.7 macrophage cells up to 1% (v/v) concentration. The curdlan and gellan gum hydrogels resulted in less post-operative adhesion of the peritoneum and cecum than shown by non-treated rats without physical barriers, but they could not completely separate the injured wall from the cecum. The mixed hydrogel resulted in less adhesion than either pure hydrogel and could be used as a physical barrier to prevent abdominal post-operative adhesion during healing.