Injectable gallic acid-engineered zwitterionic hydrogel for preventing postoperative adhesions in thyroid surgery through modulating oxidative stress and inflammation.

ABSTRACT: Postoperative adhesions after thyroid surgery pose significant clinical challenges, leading to dysphagia and reoperation risks. Current anti-adhesion barriers are limited by poor anatomical conformity of membranes, short retention time of gels, and insufficient ability to regulate the microenvironment involved in adhesion formation. To address this issue, an injectable SAG adhesive hydrogel is developed by integrating gallic acid (for oxidation regulation) and a zwitterionic polymer (for anti-fouling), to create a stable barrier that physically separates wounds while modulating the pathological microenvironment. The SAG hydrogel exhibits excellent injectability, biodegradability, and anti-fouling performance. In vitro and in vivo studies confirm it suppresses pro-inflammatory

SUBMITTER: Zhu Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12813229 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature