Synergistic Drug‐Loaded Shear‐Thinning Star Polymer Hydrogel Facilitates Gastrointestinal Lesion Resection and Promotes Wound Healing

Abstract

Abstract Easy injection, long‐lasting barrier, and drug loading are the critical properties of submucosal injection materials for endoscopic surgery. However, conventional injectable polymers face challenges in simultaneously attaining these properties due to the inherent conflict between injectability and in situ stability. Here, a multi‐arm star polymer hydrogel (denoted as βCP hydrogel) with long‐lasting submucosal barrier (exceeding 120 min), rapid hemostasis, and sustained antibacterial properties is successfully developed by grafting poly(oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate) (PEGMA) side‐chains from β‐CD via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). During the onset of shearing, βCP hydrogel experiences the unwinding of polymer side‐chains between neighboring star polymers, which facilitates the process of endoscopic injectability. After submucosal injection, βCP hydrogel undergoes the winding of polymer side‐chains, thereby establishing a long‐lasting barrier cushion. Meanwhile, owing to its distinctive structures with a hydrophobic inner cavity and an outer layer of hydrophilic polymer side‐chains, βCP hydrogel enables simultaneous loading and on‐demand release of diverse categories of drugs. This unique performance can adapt to the diverse demands during different stages of wound healing in a porcine endoscopic surgery model. These results indicate an appealing prospect for new application of star polymers as a good submucosal injection material in endoscopic treatments.

Keywords

• drug loading/release
• multi‐arm star polymer
• shear‐thinning
• submucosal injection materials