Injectable Polyzwitterionic Lubricant for Complete Prevention of Cardiac Adhesion

Abstract

After cardiac surgery, tissue damage to the heart may cause adhesion between heart and its surrounding tissues. Post-operative cardiac adhesion may lead to limited normal cardiac function, decreased quality of cardiac surgery, and increased risk of major bleeding during reoperation. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an effective anti-adhesion therapy to overcome cardiac adhesion. An injectable polyzwitterionic lubricant is developed to prevent adhesion between the heart and surrounding tissues and to maintain normal pumping function of the heart. This lubricant is evaluated in a rat heart adhesion model. Poly (2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) (i.e., PMPC) polymers are successfully prepared via free radical polymerization of monomer MPC, and the optimal lubricating performance, biocompatibility both in vitro and in vivo is demonstrated. Besides, a rat heart adhesion model is conducted to evaluate the bio-functionality of lubricated PMPC. The results prove that PMPC is a promising lubricant for complete adhesion-prevention. The injectable polyzwitterionic lubricant shows excellent lubricating properties and biocompatibility and can effectively prevent cardiac adhesion.

Keywords: anti-adhesion; cardiothoracic surgery; hydration lubrication; post-operative cardiac adhesion; zwitterionic materials.