Novel approach to reduce postsurgical adhesions to a minimum: administration of losartan plus atorvastatin intraperitoneally.

BACKGROUND: Intraperitoneal adhesions are the most important cause of intestinal obstruction, pelvic pain, and female infertility. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Losartan (1, 5, and 10 mg/kg), atorvastatin (1, 20, and 30 mg/kg), losartan (10 mg/kg) plus atorvastatin (20 mg/kg), and sodium hyaluronate/carboxymethylcellulose (HA/CMC) were administered intraperitoneally in 90 male NMRI mice. After 7 d, the grade of adhesions was scored by two scaling methods and the concentrations of TGF-ß1, tPA, and PAI-1 were also evaluated. RESULTS: Simultaneous intraperitoneal administration of losartan and atorvastatin led to a much higher reduction of adhesions compared with that in the HA/CMC group (P < 0.05). When losartan plus atorvastatin was administered, significant changes in the serum concentration and mRNA expression, including the increase of tPA and the decrease of TGF-ß1 and PAI-1, were observed compared with those in other groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the simultaneous application of losartan and atorvastatin leads to an enhanced reduction in adhesion bands more than that of HA/CMC treatment, compared with the control group, possibly through balancing the expression of TGF-ß1, tPA, and PAI-1.

Function of poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanofiber in reduction of adhesion bands.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we investigated the anti-adhesive and anti-inflammatory effects of electrospun nanofibrous membranes made of polycaprolactone (PCL), poly-L-lactide (PLLA), poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), and polyethersulfune (PES) in comparison with the oxidized-regenerated cellulose (Interceed). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using an adhesion induction model in mice, the membranes were sutured between the abdominal wall and peritoneum after surgical operation to reveal the best membrane for prevention of postoperative adhesion bands using two scoring adhesion systems. RESULTS: Compared with other membranes, PLGA, PCL, and Interceed membranes showed a greater ability to reduce adhesions. The lowest level of inflammation in adhesive tissues as well as cell attachment in vitro was detected for PLGA nanofibrous membranes. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that in considering the FDA approved polymers, nanofibrous membranes prepared from PLGA exhibited the highest efficacy for the prevention of postoperative adhesion bands and hold promising potential for application as a new anti-adhesive agent.

New approach to bone tissue engineering: simultaneous application of hydroxyapatite and bioactive glass coated on a poly(L-lactic acid) scaffold.

A combination of bioceramics and polymeric nanofibers holds promising potential for bone tissue engineering applications. In the present study, hydroxyapatite (HA), bioactive glass (BG), and tricalcium phosphate (TCP) particles were coated on the surface of electrospun poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) nanofibers, and the capacity of the PLLA, BG-PLLA, HA-PLLA, HA-BG-PLLA, and TCP-PLLA scaffolds for bone regeneration was investigated in rat critical-size defects using digital mammography, multislice spiral-computed tomography (MSCT) imaging, and histological analysis. Electrospun scaffolds exhibited a nanofibrous structure with a homogeneous distribution of bioceramics along the surface of PLLA nanofibers. A total of 8 weeks after implantation, no sign of complication or inflammation was observed at the site of the calvarial bone defect. On the basis of imaging analysis, a higher level of bone reconstruction was observed in the animals receiving HA-, BG-, and TCP-coated scaffolds compared to an untreated control group. In addition, simultaneous coating of HA and BG induced the highest regeneration among all groups. Histological staining confirmed these findings and also showed an efficient osseointegration in HA-BG-coated nanofibers. On the whole, it was demonstrated that nanofibrous structures could serve as an appropriate support to guide the healing process, and coating their surface with bioceramics enhanced bone reconstruction. These bioceramic-coated scaffolds can be used as new bone-graft substitutes capable of efficiently inducing osteoconduction and osseointegration in orthopedic fractures and defects.