Fibrous bridges that form between organs and tissues are called adhesions which can occur in intestinal, peritoneal, and spinal regions of the body as result of infection, injury, inflammation, or surgery, typically occurring in peridural, abdominal, and pericardial locations. 303,836 cases of hospitalization with 800,000 days of in patient care and $1.33 billion expenditure are estimated to be attributed to adhesion formation. Adhesions can cause reduced mobility, infertility, extreme pain, and difficulty breathing. Currently available anti-adhesive barriers have low success rates making a clear need for development of more effective biomaterials to reduce adhesions.
A biomaterial film has been developed by Rutgers University researchers that is flexible, strong, and can provide physical barrier to help prevent joining of surfaces that should not stick together, substrate cells electrostatic interaction with the film help to prevent formation of adhesions.
Polyelectrolyte complexes consist of polymers with negatively charged functional groups such as sulfate and carboxylate that have displayed inhibitory effects on adhesion of fibroblasts, macrophages, lymphocytes, and platelets. Current technology has issues such as inability to prevent adhesion in presence of blood and brittleness; new technology is from nontoxic natural material complex with desired barrier properties such as being flexible, strong, biodegradable, and cellular anti-adhesive, consisting of 2 oppositely charged polymers to prevent adhesions by providing a physical barrier to stop surfaces that should not be joined from sticking together with with additional help from substrate cell electrostatic interaction with the film which also help prevent adhesions from forming, according to the researchers.
