PLGA from PolySciTech used in development of acetazolamide-eluting pancreatic bile stent to treat postoperative pancreatic fistula

 

Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) remains the major cause of morbidity after pancreatic resection, affecting up to 41% of cases. It occurs due to pancreatic juices leaking from the surgically exfoliated surfaces or from the cut sections of an anastomosis (where intestinal and pancreas tubes join together). This can lead to sever abscess infections and a potentially lethal internal hemorrhage. Recently, researchers at Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Inha University (Korea) and College of Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio (USA) used PLGA (AP132) from PolySciTech (www.polyscitech.com) to create a biodegradable tubular stent which releases acetazolamide that prevents damage from pancreatic juices. This research holds promise to improve outcomes from this common surgical complication. Read more: Park, Jung-Hoon, Jieun Park, Yejong Park, Jeon Min Kang, Dea Sung Ryu, Jeongsu Kyung, Jong Kun Jang et al. "Acetazolamide-eluting biodegradable tubular stent prevents pancreaticojejunal anastomotic leakage." Journal of Controlled Release (2021). https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168365921002972

“Highlights: AZ-BTS effectively suppresses self-digestion caused by pancreatic juice leakage. BTS with or without AZ has inhibitory effect of anastomotic stricture formation. AZ-BTS was fabricated by a multiple dip-coating technique with reliable release. The releases AZ, targets carbonic anhydrase, protects tisssues from pancreatic juice. Animal model induced a reproducible incidence of anastomotic leakage and symptoms. Abstract: Postoperative pancreatic fistula at the early stage can lead to auto-digestion, which may delay the recovery of the pancreaticojejunal (PJ) anastomosis. The efficacy and safety of an acetazolamide-eluting biodegradable tubular stent (AZ-BTS) for the prevention of self-digestion and intra-abdominal inflammatory diseases caused by pancreatic juice leakage after PJ anastomosis in a porcine model were investigated. The AZ-BTS was successfully fabricated using a multiple dip-coating process. Then, the drug amount and release profile were analyzed. The therapeutic effects of AZ were examined in vitro using two kinds of pancreatic cancer cell lines, AsPC-1 and PANC-1. The efficacy of AZ-BTS was assessed in a porcine PJ leakage model, with animals were each assigned to a leakage group, a BTS group and an AZ-BTS group. The overall mortality rates in these three groups were 44.4%, 16.6%, and 0%, respectively. Mean α-amylase concentrations were significantly higher in the leakage and BTS groups than in the AZ-BTS group on day 2–5 (p < 0.05 each all). The luminal diameters and areas of the pancreatic duct were significantly larger in the leakage group than in the BTS and AZ-BTS groups (p < 0.05 each all). These findings indicate that AZ-BTS can significantly suppress intra-abdominal inflammatory diseases caused by pancreatic juice leakage and also prevent late stricture formation at the PJ anastomotic site in a porcine model.”