Experimental evaluation of photocrosslinkable chitosan as a biologic adhesive with surgical applications.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

In various surgical cases, effective tissue adhesives are required for both hemostasis (eg, intraoperative bleeding) and air sealing (eg, thoracic surgery). We have designed a chitosan molecule (Az-CH-LA) that can be photocrosslinked by ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation, thereby forming a hydrogel. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the photocrosslinkable chitosan hydrogel as an adhesive with surgical applications.

METHODS:

The sealing ability of the chitosan hydrogel, determined as a bursting pressure, was assessed with removed thoracic aorta, trachea, and lung of farm pigs and in a rabbit model. The carotid artery and lung of rabbits were punctured with a needle, and the chitosan hydrogel was applied to, respectively, stop the bleeding and the air leakage. In vivo chitosan degradability and biologic responses were histologically assessed in animal models.

RESULTS:

The bursting pressure of chitosan hydrogel (30 mg/mL) and fibrin glue, respectively, was 225 +/- 25 mm Hg (mean +/- SD) and 80 +/- 20 mm Hg in the thoracic aorta; 77 +/- 29 mm Hg and 48 +/- 21 mm Hg in the trachea; and in the lung, 51 +/- 11 mm Hg (chitosan hydrogel), 62 +/- 4 mm Hg (fibrin glue, rubbing method), and 12 +/- 2 mm Hg (fibrin glue, layer method). The sealing ability of the chitosan hydrogel was stronger than that of fibrin glue. All rabbits with a carotid artery (n = 8) or lung (n = 8) that was punctured with a needle and then sealed with chitosan hydrogel survived the 1-month observation period without any bleeding or air leakage from the puncture sites. Histologic examinations demonstrated that 30 days after application, a fraction of the chitosan hydrogel was phagocytosed by macrophages, had partially degraded, and had induced the formation of fibrous tissues around the hydrogel.

CONCLUSIONS:

A newly developed photocrosslinkable chitosan has demonstrated strong sealing ability and a great potential for use as an adhesive in surgical operations.

• Authors: K Ono, M Ishihara, Y Ozeki, H Deguchi, M Sato, Y Saito, H Yura, M Sato, M Kikuchi, A Kurita, T Maehara
• Journal: Surgery (Surgery) Vol. 130 Issue 5 Pg. 844-50 (Nov 2001) ISSN: 0039-6060 [Print] United States
• PMID: 11685194 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Chitin
• Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate
• Chitosan

Topics

• Animals
• Biological Dressings
• Chitin (analogs & derivatives)
• Chitosan
• Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate
• Lung (pathology, surgery)
• Male
• Pressure
• Rabbits
• Swine