Journal: Advanced Science

Article Title: Catheter Injectable Multifunctional Biomaterial for the Treatment of Infected Enterocutaneous Fistulas

doi: 10.1002/advs.202414642

Figure Lengend Snippet: Mechanical optimization and characterization of 18NC75‐10P. a) Schematic illustrating the preparation of the multifunctional 18NC75‐10P‐1IL hydrogel for the occlusion of ECF tracts featuring antimicrobial, pro‐healing, and anti‐inflammatory properties. b) Representative flow curves of oscillatory strain sweeps for 6NC75, 12NC75, and 18NC75 at a constant angular frequency of 10 rad s −1 . Shear strain ranges from 10 −2 to 10 2 %. c) Image of 18NC75 with varying L‐PRF concentrations (0, 1, 5, and 10 w/w%), demonstrating visual material differences. d) Representative flow curves of oscillatory strain sweeps for 18NC75, 18NC75‐1P, 18NC75‐5P, and 18NC75‐10P at a constant angular frequency of 10 rad s −1 . Shear strain ranges from 10 −2 to 10 2 %. e) Graph depicting the storage modulus generated by 18NC75, 18NC75‐1P, 18NC75‐5P, and 18NC75‐10P at a shear strain of 10 −1 % ( n = 3). f) Thixotropy test measuring the storage modulus of 18NC75 and 18NC75‐10P under alternating 100% high strain for 2 min and 0.5% low strain for 1 min at a constant angular frequency of 10 rad s −1 demonstrating recoverability. g , Representative time‐dependent injection force flow curves displaying the compression force generated after injecting 18NC75‐10P through catheters of various sizes. h) Photograph of the compression testing setup used to apply 10 cycles of compression forces to the fistula‐mimicking 3D‐printed model filled with 18NC75‐10P hydrogel. i) Reconstructed micro‐CT images illustrating fistula models filled with either 6NC75 or 18NC75‐10P hydrogel before and after applying 10 cycles of compression pressure ranging between 0 – 20 kPa or 0 – 60 kPa. The graph shows the percentage of remaining volume inside the fistula model after cyclic compression ( n = 3). j) Illustration of the experimental setup for measuring displacement pressure, accompanied by flow curves and a quantitative analysis highlighting the maximum pressure needed to displace 18NC75‐10P from a 3D‐printed model mimicking a fistula ( n = 3). Data are presented as mean ± s.e.m. Statistical significance was determined by one‐way ANOVA with Tukey's post‐hoc tests in e or unpaired Student's t‐test in i. ns, not significant, * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001, **** p < 0.0001.

Article Snippet: The compression conditions included ranges of 0 – 20 kPa or 0 – 60 kPa, applied at rates of 40 and 120 kPa min −1 , respectively, using Compression testing system equipped with a 100 N loading cell (Instron 5942, Instron Corp., Norwood, MA, USA).

Techniques: Shear, Generated, Injection, Micro-CT