What question did this study set out to answer?

The study aims to improve the biocompatibility of polyurethane materials by reducing foreign body reactions through polysialic acid grafting.

April 15, 2026

Polysialic Acid Hydrogel for Reducing Foreign Body Reactions in Implanted Polyurethane Materials

Key Points

The study aims to improve the biocompatibility of polyurethane materials by reducing foreign body reactions through polysialic acid grafting.
Interfacial interpenetrating grafting approach used to modify polyurethane materials with polysialic acid (PU-sg-PSA).
Non-specific protein adhesion tests compared PU-sg-PSA with unmodified polyurethane.
A rat subcutaneous implantation model assessed macrophage behavior and fibrous encapsulation.
Macrophage expression of nitric oxide (NO) levels measured.
PU-sg-PSA showed significantly reduced protein adhesion compared to unmodified PU materials.
Lower levels of NO expression were observed in macrophages on the PU-sg-PSA surface.
Fewer macrophages encircled the PU-sg-PSA material in the implantation model.
The fibrous encapsulation layer was thinner around PU-sg-PSA than around unmodified PU.

Abstract

Long-term retention of polyurethane (PU) materials as vascular channels, due to foreign body reactions causing fiber encapsulation, will eventually lead to material failure. In this research, an interfacial interpenetrating grafting approach is adopted to graft PSA onto the surface of the PU material (PU-sg-PSA), which exhibits excellent resistance to fibrous encapsulation. The experimental results indicated that, compared with the unmodified PU material, the PU-sg-PSA material exhibited a reduced level of non-specific protein adhesion. In terms of macrophage behavior, macrophages on the PU-sg-PSA material has low expression levels of NO. In a rat subcutaneous implantation model, the number of macrophages surrounding the PU-sg-PSA material was fewer, and the formed fibrous encapsulation layer was thinner compared that to unmodified PU.

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Authors

Dongri Hu

South China University of Technology

Gang Wu

South China University of Technology

Pinrui Zhang

South China University of Technology

Journals

Macromolecular Rapid Communications

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Institutions

Washington University in St. Louis

South China University of Technology

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Polysialic Acid Hydrogel for Reducing Foreign Body Reactions in Implanted Polyurethane Materials

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Abstract

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