Effects of Sprayable, Highly Adhesive Hydrophobized Gelatin Microparticles on Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection: A Swine Model

Introduction: Sprayable wound dressings containing hydrophobized microparticles (hMPs) are characterized by strong adhesiveness. We examined the effect of hMPs derived from Alaska pollock gelatin on endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) ulcers. Methods: (1) In an in vivo model of miniature swine gastric ESD, gastric ulcers were created by ESD and then sprayed with hMPs or untreated followed by microscopic examination. (2) In an ex vivo ESD model of resected stomach, a pinhole-shaped perforation was created on the ESD ulcer of resected stomach; hMPs were then sprayed on the perforation; and air leakage and intragastric pressure were measured. (3) In an in vivo duodenal ESD model of miniature swine, duodenal artificial ESD ulcers with pinhole-shaped perforation were examined; ulcers were classified into hMPs-sprayed and nonsprayed groups, and inflammation in the intrinsic muscle layer and serosa were compared between the groups. Results: (1) Histological observation of submucosal tissues showed a decreased number of invading inflammatory cells in hMP-sprayed tissues compared with the control in miniature swine gastric ESD (p < 0.05). In addition, the rates of anti-alpha smooth muscle actin and type I collagen positivity were significantly lower in the hMPs group than in the control group (p < 0.05). (2) Intragastric pressure could not be measured in the nonsprayed group, whereas no air leakage was observed in the sprayed group when pressurized up to 26 mm Hg in the resected stomach model. (3) The sprayed group showed suppressed inflammation of the intrinsic muscular layer and serosa in both cases compared with the nonsprayed group in miniature swine duodenal ESD (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Sprayable, tissue-adhesive hMPs are a promising medical material for intraoperative and postoperative treatment of ESD-induced wound via anti-inflammation and strong adhesiveness.