UMD Engineers’ New Treatment Targets Common Post-Operative Abdominal Complication

University of Maryland researchers have developed a new sprayable material that could help prevent surgical adhesions, a common and sometimes dangerous complication following abdominal surgery. 

The polymer material was designed in the lab of Peter Kofinas, a professor and chair of the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, and is intended to create a durable barrier between injured tissue and nearby surfaces as the body heals. The results of this work were published in the journal Advanced Healthcare Materials.

Surgical adhesions form when fibrous tissue develops between adjacent surfaces following tissue injury. They are common in patients that undergo abdominal procedures, with a 95% incidence rate, and occasionally lead to life-threatening conditions such as small bowel obstruction. In women, adhesions in the peritoneum—the abdominal space that contains organs such as the liver, stomach and intestines—are also a leading cause of secondary infertility. 

Current approaches to preventing adhesions still come with significant challenges; for one, drug-based therapies may impact the human body’s wound-healing response. Other barrier materials can be difficult for surgeons to apply and may degrade before tissue has fully healed, limiting their effectiveness. 

“If a material breaks down into pieces [after being applied to a tissue], that’s not helping anyone,” said Robert Morris, doctoral candidate in chemical and biomolecular engineering and lead author of the paper. 

The research team developed the sprayable polymer to form a protective barrier over injured tissue and remain in place for at least 10 days, giving tissue time to heal before the barrier biodegrades.

The research team is now studying additional applications for the material, including its potential use in female reproductive health. With further testing, the researchers hope the platform could offer surgeons a more effective tool for reducing complications and supporting recovery after surgical procedures.