The Effect of Continuous Release of Methylene Blue From a Drug Delivery System on the Intestines: An Experimental Study in Chick Embryo Gastroschisis Model

SUMMARY Prolonged exposure to amniotic fluid causes the intestinal changes such as serosal edema, thickening,fibrous coating,and adhesions in gastroschisis. The effect of continuous delivery of methylene blue (CDMB) from a drug delivery system and daily injection of methylen blue (DIMB) on the intestines was evaluated using a chick embryo gastroschisis model.Fifty fertile eggs were divided into5 groups: preliminary study (PSn=10), amnio-allontoic fluid (AAF) control (AAC, n=10), just gastroschisis (JG, n=10), gastroschisis pretreated with daily injection of methylene blue (GP-DIMB, n=10) and gastroschisis pretreated with continuous delivery of methylene blue (GP-CDMB, n=10). The PS group was also divided into 2 subgroups to determine the biochemical differences between the amniotic and allontoic fluid. Gastroschisis was created surgically at the 14 th day of incubation. In GPMB group daily methylene blue injection (5 mg/g) was administered into AAF for 5 days. In GP-CDMB, 25 µg/g methylene blue loaded polymer (Hydroxy-Propyl Methyl Cellulosa- Ethyl Cellulosa HPMC-EC) was placed into AAF. A significant decrease in mortality and intestinal damage and higher ganglion number were observed both macroscopically and microscopically in the group GP- CDMB compared to JG (p<0.001). Because of multiple intervention of embryos, higher mortality rate were observed in the group GP-DIMB (75.61%). Pretreatment with continuous delivery of methylene blue from a drug delivery system, prevented intestinal damage, and the complication of multiple interventions of fetuses because of gastroschisis.