Angiogenesis Inhibiting Crosslinked Albumin Hydrogel as a New Approach for Adhesion Prevention

Aims: Two crosslinked albumin hydrogels with angiogenetic inhibition activities were tested in situ for their potential to prevent adhesions in rabbits.

Methodology: The albumin hydrogels – one viscous and another non-viscous - were applied with a 4:1 double chamber syringe onto a traumatized rabbit abdominal wall. This allowed testing anti-adhesion properties and biocompatibility with respect to their wound healing effects. Seprafilm® was used as a negative control; the positive control remained untreated.

Results: The study indicated good biocompatibility properties for both hydrogels and Seprafilm®, such as the absence of cytotoxic effects, missing signs of systemic toxicity as well as undisturbed wound healing. However, while Seprafilm® was near to complete resorption, some remnants of the hydrogels could still be seen after 21 days. Additionally, slight signs of inflammation, especially in the spleen were observed after the intra-abdominal implantation of 1.3 ml hydrogel per kg body weight possibly due to beginning phagocytosis. Nevertheless, both hydrogels as well as Seprafilm® displayed good anti-adhesive effects in the abdominal wall model. The trend for the hydrogels to have lower and less tense adhesions compared to the untreated control and even Seprafilm® is in part explained by the angiogenetic inhibition effect of the hydrogels.

Conclusion: The crosslinked albumin hydrogels and the Seprafilm® showed good anti-adhesive efficacy. These promising results of crosslinked albumin hydrogels may even lead to further application forms such as non-viscous sprays which would increase fast, easy and secure handling of this effective device.