Evaluation of the antiadhesion potential of UV cross-linked gelatin films in a rat abdominal model

Among five kinds of rat adhesion models tested, the following model was selected. The epigastric vein 2.5 cm from the midline of the abdomen was cut by sharp scissors, and the lateral side of the cut epigastric vein was ligated using a 3–0 silk suture. This model could be easily prepared and gave a rate of adhesion formation of 90%, which was useful for screening antiadhesive materials. For the kinetic study of tissue adhesion in this model, an injured site was covered with a non-degradable poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) film. The incidence rate of adhesion was 18%, when the PVA film covered the injured site for 2 days. This suggests that an antiadhesive barrier should cover the injured site for at least 2 days. The antiadhesion efficacy of cross-linked gelatin films were evaluated using this adhesion model. The UV cross-linked gelatin film which was designed to exist for 2 days but to disappear at day 3 in the rat abdominal cavity showed the highest antiadhesion efficacy.