Since
the degree of severity and the geometry of wounds vary, it
is necessary to prepare an antiadhesive hydrogel that possesses dynamically
controllable material properties, exhibits biodegradability, and possesses
drug-releasing properties. Injectable, oxygen peroxide-sensitive,
and photo-cross-linkable hydrogels that permit in situ dynamic and spatial control of their physicochemical properties
were synthesized for the prevention of postoperative adhesion. Albumin
is the most abundant protein in blood serum and serves as a carrier
for several molecules that exhibit poor water solubility. It is therefore
a suitable biomaterial for the fabrication of hydrogels since it presents
a low risk of life-threatening complications and does not require
immunosuppressive therapy for preventing graft rejection. The physicochemical
properties of this hydrogel can then be spatially postadjusted via
transdermal exposure to light to release drugs, depending on what
is required for the injury. A significant reduction in postoperative
peritoneal adhesion was observed in an animal model involving severe
sidewall and bowel abrasions. This study demonstrated that the fabricated
dually cross-linked, albumin-based hydrogels have great potential
in such applications because they showed a low immune response, easy
handling, full wound coverage, and tunable biodegradability. Precise
spatial and controllable drug-release profiles may also be achieved
via in situ transdermal post-tuning of the biomaterials,
depending on the injury.
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