Anti-inflammatory function of an in situ cross-linkable conjugate hydrogel of hyaluronic acid and dexamethasone.

Ito, Taichi; Fraser, Iain P; Yeo, Yoon; Highley, Christopher B; Bellas, Evangelia; Kohane, Daniel S · Biomaterials · 2007

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Postoperative peritoneal adhesions cause pelvic pain, infertility, and potentially lethal bowel obstruction. We have designed and synthesized an injectable hydrogel composed of cross-linkable modified hyaluronic acids (HAs) conjugated to dexamethasone (HAX-DEX), and investigated its anti-inflammatory function. HAX-DEX formed a hydrogel in <1min by cross-linking reactions between aldehyde groups and hydrazide groups. The hydrogel degraded in media over 5 days, releasing dexamethasone slowly over that time, reducing TNF-alpha and IL-6 production from lipopolysaccharide-stimulated primary mouse macrophages in vitro. HAX-DEX was biocompatible on subcutaneous injection, and caused less inflammation than unmodified cross-linked HA.

Medical subject headings