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Introduction: Despite extensive research, anastomotic leakage (AL) remains one of the most dreaded complications after colorectal surgery. Since butyrate enemas are known to enhance anastomotic healing, several administration routes have been explored in this study., Methods: Three intraluminal approaches involving butyrate were investigated: (1) butyrin-elucidating patch, (2) a single injection of hyaluronan-butyrate (HA-But) prior to construction of the proximal anastomosis and (3) rectal hyaluronan-butyrate (HA-But) enemas designed for distal anastomoses. The main outcome was AL and secondary outcomes were bursting pressure, histological analysis of the anastomosis, zymography to detect MMP activity and qPCR for gene expression of MMP2, MMP9, MUC2 and TFF3., Results: Neither the patches nor the injections led to a reduction of AL in experiments 1 and 2. In experiment 3, a significant reduction of AL was accomplished with the (HA-But) enema compared to the control group together with a higher bursting pressure. Histological analysis detected only an increased inflammation in experiment 2 in the hyaluronan injection group compared to the control group. No other differences were found regarding wound healing. Zymography identified a decreased proenzyme of MMP9 when HA-But was administered as a rectal enema. qPCR did not show any significant differences between groups in any experiment., Conclusion: Butyrate enemas are effective in the enhancement of colonic anastomosis. Enhanced butyrate-based approaches designed to reduce AL in animal models for both proximal and distal anastomoses were not more effective than were butyrate enemas alone. Further research should focus on how exogenous butyrate can improve anastomotic healing after gastrointestinal surgery.

In this study we present a novel silver complex of hyaluronan-lipoate (SHLS12) in a gel-state form. NMR analysis, conductometry and elemental analysis demonstrated stable non-covalent interactions between silver ions and the polysaccharide-lipoate backbone, whereas rheological investigations confirmed its gel-like physical-chemical behavior. Biological studies showed the ability of SHLS12 to exert a straightforward activity against different bacterial strains grown in sessile/planktonic state. The biocompatibility was also proved toward two eukaryotic cell lines. By considering both its ability to preserve antibacterial properties when exposed to the serum protein BSA and its low susceptibility to be degraded by hyaluronidase enzyme, this novel complex may be considered as a promising biomaterial for future in vivo applications., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The synthesis and physicochemical characterisation of mixed lipoic and formic esters of hyaluronan (Lipohyal) are presented in this paper. The synthesis was conducted by activating lipoic acid with 1,1'-carbonyldiimidazole to obtain lipoyl imidazolide, which reacted with hyaluronan (HA) in formamide under basic conditions. This procedure allows researchers to modulate easily the degree of substitution over a range of 0.05-1.8. Radical scavenger properties were analysed by UV-vis spectroscopy, where improved performance was demonstrated for Lipohyal with respect to the HA row material and lipoic acid. The chemical modification also causes HA to show an improved resistance to hyaluronidase digestion. These findings show that Lipohyal is a highly interesting derivative for applications in the tricological and dermo-cosmetic field and as an anti-aging ingredient. Moreover, Lipohyal can be easily crosslinked by UV irradiation, resulting in an innovative hydrogel with distinctive viscoelastic properties that is suitable as both a dermal-filler and as an intra-articular medical device., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)