Epigallocatechin-3-O-Gallate-Loaded Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) Fibrous Sheets as Anti-Adhesion Barriers

Abstract

Epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG), the main polyphenolic component of green tea, has a wide range of pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fibrotic effects. In this study, EGCG-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) sheets were prepared by electrospinning nanofibers and evaluating their potential as tissue-adhesion barriers. EGCG-loaded PLGA (E-PLGA) fibrous sheets were electrospun from a PLGA solution containing 8% (w/v) EGCG. The average diameter of E-PLGA fibers was 397 ± 159 nm, which was comparable to that of pure PLGA fibers (459 ± 154 nm). EGCG was uniformly dispersed in E-PLGA sheets without direct chemical interactions. E-PLGA fibrous sheets showed sustained release of EGCG by controlled diffusion and PLGA degradation. The attachment and proliferation of L-929 fibroblastic cells were significantly (p < 0.05) suppressed in E-PLGA sheets. Furthermore, E-PLGA fibrous sheets did not induce any inflammatory response to J774A.1 macrophages. The anti-adhesion efficacy of E-PLGA fibrous sheets was evaluated in the intraperitoneal adhesion model in rats. Two weeks after surgical treatment, macroscopic adhesion (extent and severity) scores and histopathological tissue responses of E-PLGA fibrous sheets were significantly lower than those of non-treated controls and pure PLGA sheets. The results suggest that the scores are comparable, and in some cases superior, to those of other commercialized tissue-adhesion barriers. In conclusion, our study findings suggest that E-PLGA fibrous sheets may be exploited as potential tissue-adhesion barriers for the prevention of post-surgical adhesion formation.