Engineering news
Developed by researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Massachusetts, the new spray is designed to address limitations with current gastrointestinal wound management materials.
Gastrointestinal surgery, screening procedures such as colonoscopies and naturally occurring complications such as ulcers can lead to issues including internal bleeding, intestinal wall perforation, and leakage.
The uniquely harsh conditions of the gastrointestinal tract, such as acidic pH, enzymes, bacteria, and muscle contractions, make healing those wounds particularly challenging.
The new ‘tissue-responsive’ adhesive technology is engineered to interact with the tissue, providing prolonged lesion protection over days.
The material is also designed to be easy to apply and usable with current technology. It is delivered using a minuscule catheter, small enough to be inserted into any commercial endoscope. Upon contact with tissue, the material immediately forms an adhesive shield.
In preclinical studies using large animal models, the team found that the hydrogel, known as Gastroshield, promoted rapid wound healing, provided prolonged tissue protection, and minimised the risk of delayed complications.
When compared to six commercially available materials on the market, it reportedly demonstrated superior durability, lasting for three to seven days compared to one or two days, and showed adhesive properties of the strongest materials in the market, without cytotoxic properties.
The work sets the stage for future development of biomaterials for minimally invasive surgical procedures, said Brigham and Women’s biomedical engineer Natalie Artzi, who is also cofounder of BioDevek, which holds patents on the material and is leading efforts to bring it from the lab to the clinic.
The research was published in Advanced Materials.
Want the best engineering stories delivered straight to your inbox? The Professional Engineering newsletter gives you vital updates on the most cutting-edge engineering and exciting new job opportunities. To sign up, click here.
Content published by Professional Engineering does not necessarily represent the views of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.