Prevention of intra-abdominal adhesion using electrospun PEG/PLGA nanofibrous membranes

Abstract

The use of physical barriers, such as nanofiber membranes, is a potential method to prevent adhesion formation after surgery. In this study, we fabricated electrospun composite poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)/poly(lactic-co-glycolic) (PLGA) nanofibrous membrane to prevent abdomen adhesion; this composite acts as a barrier between cecum and the surrounding tissues without interrupting mass transfer and cecum healing. PEG/PLGA nanofibrous membranes consisting of 0% (P0), 5% (P1), 10% (P2), 15% (P3), 20% (P4), and 25% (P5) PEG were prepared, and their physicochemical properties were characterized. The P0 shows the highest thermostability, whereas P1 exhibited the most homogenous morphology, the narrowest diameter distribution, and the largest ultimate stress and strain. In vitro cell adhesion and proliferation tests using fibroblasts indicate that all nanofibrous membranes inhibited cell proliferation, with P1 showing the lowest degree of cell attachment. In vivo application of nanofibrous membranes on the repaired site of rat cecum model demonstrated that all of the membranes prevent adhesion formation to a certain extent. We concluded based on gross observation, histological analysis, and functional assays that P1 served as an effective anti-adhesion membrane after cecum surgery in a clinical setting.

Keywords: Anti-adhesion; Electrospinning; PEG/PLGA nanofibrous membranes; Physical barrier.