In Situ Photoactivated Hydrogel Adhesive Dressings for Post Colon Polypectomies (PolypCures)

Abstract Colon polypectomy is a widely performed endoscopic procedure that reduces the incidence of colorectal cancer but leaves exposed colonic wounds susceptible to bleeding, perforation, and infection. The current standard of wound care, mechanical clips, is limited by technical complexity, high cost, and poor efficacy for large (> 2 cm in diameter) or difficult-to-access lesions. Here, we present PolypCure, an in situ photoactivated hydrogel adhesive dressing delivered via a single catheter, through either oozing or spraying methods, to achieve rapid, spatiotemporally controlled sealing and hemostasis (within 2 min) of colon lesions using the white light source integrated into standard endoscopic instruments. The hydrogel, composed of norbornene- and thiol-functionalized polyethylene glycol, carboxymethyl cellulose, and Eosin Y, exhibits mechanical properties comparable to colon tissue (G’ ∼ 6 kPa), strong shear strength (> 15 kPa), low swelling (< 200%), and small pore size (∼ 20 µm), ensuring long-term stability (up to 30 days) and protection against bacterial infiltration. The formulation also demonstrates biocompatibility and hemocompatibility. In an in vivo pig colon endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) model, PolypCure fully adheres to large lesions for at least 3 days and promotes early-stage wound healing. Overall, PolypCure is a promising solution to wound management post-polypectomy. Competing Interest Statement The authors (MWG, XH) have filed a patent on this application through Boston University and the patent is available for licensing.