Adhesion prevention with shear-thinning polymeric hydrogels
A method of preventing tissue adhesion includes forming an incision in tissue, applying a hydrogel to tissue through the incision, and closing the incision with the hydrogel therein. The hydrogel includes a polymer non-covalently cross-linked with a plurality of nanoparticles and prevents a formation of adhesions between tissues and/or organs.
1. A method of preventing tissue adhesion, comprising:
forming an incision in a tissue;
applying a dynamically cross-linked supramolecular hydrogel to the tissue through the incision, the dynamically cross-linked supramolecular hydrogel comprising a hydrophobically modified cellulose derivative non-covalently cross-linked with a plurality of nanoparticles; and
closing the incision with the dynamically cross-linked supramolecular hydrogel therein, wherein the dynamically cross-linked supramolecular hydrogel prevents a formation of adhesions between the tissue and other tissues and/or organs.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein forming the incision in the tissue is part of a surgical procedure.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobically modified cellulose derivative comprises hydrophobically modified hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC).
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticles comprise poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(lactic acid) (PEG-PLA).
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dynamically cross-linked supramolecular hydrogel remains on the tissue for at least 7 days after closing the incision.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dynamically cross-linked supramolecular hydrogel remains on the tissue for at least 14 days after closing the incision.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dynamically cross-linked supramolecular hydrogel dissipates from the tissue in less than 120 days after closing.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dynamically cross-linked supramolecular hydrogel dissipates from the tissue in less than 30 days after closing.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the applying comprises spraying the dynamically cross-linked supramolecular hydrogel onto the tissue.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the applying comprises spreading the dynamically cross-linked supramolecular hydrogel onto the tissue.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the applying comprises injecting the dynamically cross-linked supramolecular hydrogel onto the tissue.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the applying comprises applying a shear to the dynamically cross-linked supramolecular hydrogel to allow the dynamically cross-linked supramolecular hydrogel to achieve a viscous flow so as to conform to and cover the tissue.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the dynamically cross-linked supramolecular hydrogel adheres to the tissue without delaminating after conforming to and covering the tissue.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the viscous flow stops and the dynamically cross-linked supramolecular hydrogel recovers its mechanical properties within 5 seconds after the applying of the shear.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tissue comprises abdominal tissue.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tissue comprises orthopedic tissue.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tissue comprises thoracic tissue.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tissue comprises cardiac tissue.
19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tissue comprises gynecologic tissue.
20. The method of claim 1 , wherein a storage modulus of the dynamically cross-linked supramolecular hydrogel is 50-500 Pa.
21. The method of claim 1 , wherein a yield stress of the dynamically cross-linked supramolecular hydrogel is 50-500 Pa.
22. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dynamically cross-linked supramolecular hydrogel maintains a linear viscoelasticity at strains up to at least 0.5%.
23. The method of claim 1 , wherein a tan delta of the dynamically cross-linked supramolecular hydrogel is less than 1.
24. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dynamically cross-linked supramolecular hydrogel is shear-thinning.
25. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dynamically cross-linked supramolecular hydrogel is self-healing.
26. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dynamically cross-linked supramolecular hydrogel comprises 1 wt % of the hydrophobically modified cellulose derivative or more.
27. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dynamically cross-linked supramolecular hydrogel comprise 5 wt % of the nanoparticles or more.
28. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dynamically cross-linked supramolecular hydrogel comprises approximately 1 wt % of the hydrophobically modified cellulose derivative and 10 wt % of the nanoparticles.