A carboxymethyl cellulose enhanced F127 hydrogel with anti-inflammation and peritoneum regeneration activities for preventing peritoneal adhesion

• Published in: International journal of biological macromolecules Vol. 320; no. Pt 4; p. 146054
• Main Authors: Hou, Chuanyu, Zhong, Zhensheng, Long, Naibin, Cao, Yaoling, Yang, Zhihao, Zhai, Zhen, He, Jun, Wang, Jiankang, Lyu, Jifu, Wang, Juan, Qian, Haisheng, Zhou, Jinhua, Tang, Qinqing
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.08.2025
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-inflammation; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - chemistry; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - pharmacology; Carboxymethyl cellulose; Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium - chemistry; Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium - pharmacology; Humans; Hydrogels - chemistry; Hydrogels - pharmacology; Male; Peritoneum - drug effects; Peritoneum - pathology; Peritoneum - physiology; Peritoneum regeneration; Pluronic F127; Poloxamer - chemistry; Poloxamer - pharmacology; Postoperative peritoneal adhesion; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Regeneration - drug effects; Tissue Adhesions - pathology; Tissue Adhesions - prevention & control; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 - metabolism; Wound Healing - drug effects; Carboxymethyl cellulose; Pluronic F127; Peritoneum regeneration; Anti-inflammation; Postoperative peritoneal adhesion
• ISSN: 0141-8130; 1879-0003; 1879-0003
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.146054

Postoperative peritoneal adhesion (PPA) is a common and severe postoperative complication that does not require satisfactory precautions by surgeons. By combining Pluronic F127 and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), we developed an F127- CMC hydrogel (designated as FC hydrogel), and characterized and tested its physicochemical properties, biosafety, bioactivities, and anti-PPA effects. The FC hydrogel was free-flowing and injectable below 12.5 °C and gelled in situ at body temperature. The CMC network provided anti-inflammatory and wound healing abilities to FC hydrogel, which demonstrated 35.2 % healing of human peritoneal mesothelial cells in 48 h and 90 % clearance of transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1) in 12 h in vitro. Treatment with FC hydrogel significantly reduced the incidence of PPA, and adhesion scores for H group were substantially reduced. Pathological analysis confirmed these effects and revealed complete regeneration of the peritoneum. In addition, immunohistochemical, immunofluorescence, and western blot analyses revealed significant reduction in the levels of TGF-β1, interleukin-6, and alpha smooth muscle actin in abdominal wall and cecum of rats in the hydrogel-treated group. Overall, the FC hydrogel may be considered as a safe, reliable, and user-friendly anti-adhesion barrier, capable of showing anti-inflammatory effects and regeneration of the peritoneum. •The preparation of FC hydrogel is simple, fully green and nontoxic.•FC hydrogel have excellent mechanical properties.•FC hydrogel showed a regenerative ability for peritoneum.•FC hydrogel significantly reduce the expression of TGF-β1.