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Poly(vinyl alcohol) membranes for adhesion prevention
Author(s) -
Weis Christine,
Odermatt Erich K.,
Kressler Jörg,
Funke Zofia,
Wehner Tim,
Freytag Dorothee
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of biomedical materials research part b: applied biomaterials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.665
H-Index - 108
eISSN - 1552-4981
pISSN - 1552-4973
DOI - 10.1002/jbm.b.30007
Subject(s) - vinyl alcohol , membrane , materials science , self healing hydrogels , adhesion , tissue adhesion , bioadhesive , biomedical engineering , polymer chemistry , composite material , chemical engineering , polymer , chemistry , medicine , biochemistry , engineering
The abnormal joining of anatomic structures after abdominal and pelvic surgery can lead to such major complications as bowel obstruction or infertility. Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) membranes and hydrogels were placed over the injured tissue to act as a physical barrier and prevent such adhesions from occurring in a rabbit sidewall model. The membranes were sutured into place to prevent their slipping or curling on the moist tissue. Various in vitro experiments (including testing for swelling and mechanical strength) were conducted in order to better understand the behavior of these membranes in the wound. The results showed that both the PVA membranes and PVA hydrogels significantly reduced the number and severity of adhesions in the rabbit sidewall model, and even indicated a distinct improvement over SEPRAFILM® as antiadhesion barriers. Contact‐angle measurements were taken in order to evaluate the surface properties of the membranes and hydrogels. Three approaches were taken to render the membranes more bioadhesive, and forego the need for future additional suturing: imprinting a texture onto the membrane, coating the membrane with carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC), and producing bi‐layered, porous PVA membranes through a process of lyophilization. Though the surface of the PVA hydrogels is more hydrophilic than the surface of the PVA membranes, neither would adhere untreated to moist tissue. However, all three approaches aimed at improving their bioadhesion yielded excellent results and demonstrated that PVA could indeed be considered a viable method of adhesion prevention. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 70B: 191–202, 2004