206: Visible light-cured glycol chitosan (GC) bioadhesive hydrogel for fetoscopic prenatal treatment of myelomeningocele

Abstract

Myelomeningocele (MMC) is a congenital disease which can leave irreversible neurological sequelae after birth. Due to the significant maternal and fetal complication of open fetal surgery, tissue engineering with fetoscopic approach has the potential to provide a less invasive approach for fetal therapy. Our study focuses on the development and characterization of the physical and biological properties of visible light-cured glycol chitosan (GC) hydrogels, which is applicable in wet condition without suture or glue, for fetoscopic MMC prenatal repair. Visible light-cured GC hydrogels were prepared and characterized. Then it was applied prenatally to retinoic acid- induced fetal MMC in the rat model. The results demonstrate that the GC hydrogel is nontoxic, can support cellular migration, can be applicable in wet condition, and can be adhered by visible light, without suture or glue. When GC hydrogel is applied prenatally to retinoic acid-induced fetal MMC in the rat model, without suture or glue, epidermal ingrowth and neovascularization were significantly increased by hydrogels, compared to the non- treatment group. The characteristics of visible light-cured GC hydrogels, which is applicable in wet condition without suture or glue, make it a potential novel alternative to open fetal repairs.View Large Image Figure ViewerDownload Hi-res image Download (PPT)