Anti-inflammatory function of an in situ cross-linkable conjugate hydrogel of hyaluronic acid and dexamethasone.

Abstract Postoperative peritoneal adhesions cause pelvic pain, infertility, and potentially lethal bowel obstruction. We have designed and synthesized an injectable hydrogel composed of cross-linkable modified hyaluronic acids (HAs) conjugated to dexamethasone (HAX-DEX), and investigated its anti-inflammatory function. HAX-DEX formed a hydrogel in α and IL-6 production from lipopolysaccharide-stimulated primary mouse macrophages in vitro . HAX-DEX was biocompatible on subcutaneous injection, and caused less inflammation than unmodified cross-linked HA.