A zwitterionic dual-network hydrogel patch with anti-inflammatory properties for efficient peritoneal adhesion prevention

Abstract

Postoperative peritoneal adhesion, driven by inflammatory response and fibrotic deposition, remains the most common complication following abdominal surgeries, with limited effective solutions. Herein, a dual-network hydrogel patch (GPSB) is developed for effective peritoneal adhesion prevention through interpenetrating a gelatin network with a zwitterionic polysulfobetaine (PSB) network. The biodegradable gelatin network is dynamically crosslinked via zinc ion (Zn²⁺)–polyphenol coordination, endowing the patch with inherent antibacterial and pro-healing activities. Through in situ polymerization, a crosslinked PSB network is interwoven with the gelatin matrix, markedly increasing the Young's modulus of hydrogels to 97.7 ± 5.2 kPa and greatly enhancing their mechanical integrity. Moreover, the resulting GPSB hydrogel achieves a shear strength of 28.5 kPa, on par with commercial cyanoacrylate-based bio-glues. Moreover, the highly biocompatible PSB component effectively resists nonspecific protein adsorption by 46-fold and modulates macrophage-mediated inflammatory responses, reducing the secretion of inflammatory cytokines by approximately 70%. Through the synergistic antibacterial and anti-inflammatory functions, the GPSB hydrogel patch provides robust protection against postoperative inflammation and achieves efficient prevention of peritoneal adhesions. This study highlights an effective and multifunctional hydrogel patch for next-generation anti-adhesion biomaterials.