A self-fused peptide-loaded hydrogel with injectability and tissue-adhesiveness for preventing postoperative peritoneal adhesions

Peritoneal adhesions commonly occur following abdominal or pelvic surgery and can cause serious complications. Currently, physical barriers are the primary approach used in clinical practice to prevent adhesion, although their effectiveness is frequently inadequate. In this study, we developed an injectable peptide-loaded hydrogel with multiple functions, including self-fusion, tissue-adhesiveness, anti-inflammation, anti-cell adhesion and anti-angiogenesis. To assess the effectiveness of these hydrogels, which are stabilized by dynamic imine bonds and acetal connections, in preventing postoperative abdominal adhesions, we utilized both a rat abdominal adhesion model and a rat model simulating repeated-injury adhesions. In comparison to the commercially available HA hydrogel, as-prepared hydrogels exhibited significant reductions in inflammation, fibrosis, and angiogenesis, leading to an obvious decrease in peritoneal adhesions. Moreover, this peptide-loaded hydrogel demonstrated an ideal degradation time, maintaining an in vivo viability for about 10 days. We believe this peptide-loaded hydrogel presents a promising solution for the challenging clinical issue of postoperative abdominal adhesions. [Display omitted] •A tissue-adhesive self-fused peptide-loaded hydrogel crosslinked by dual dynamic covalent bonding and hydrogen bonding.•The hydrogel shows an excellent anti-adhesion ability to prevent PPA and recurrent adhesion after adhesiolysis.•The potential mechanism of the prepared hydrogel against postoperative adhesion was revealed.