In vivo performance of antibiotic embedded electrospun PCL membranes for prevention of abdominal adhesions

Abstract The aim of this study was to prepare nonwoven materials from poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) and their antibiotic containing forms by electrospinning, so as to prevent postsurgery induced abdominal adhesions in rats. ε‐Caprolactone was first polymerized by ring‐opening polymerization, and then it was processed into matrices composed of nanofibers by electrospinning. A model antibiotic (Biteral®) was embedded within a group of PCL membranes. In the rat model, defects on the abdominal walls in the peritoneum were made to induce adhesion. The plain or antibiotic embedded PCL membranes were implanted on the right side of the abdominal wall. No membrane implantation was made on the left side of the abdominal wall that served as control. Macroscopical and histological evaluations showed that using these barriers reduces the extent, type, and tenacity of adhesion. The antibiotic embedded membranes significantly eliminated postsurgery abdominal adhesions, and also improved healing. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2006