Thixotropic β-Chitin Nanofiber Hydrogel with a Living Body-Responsive Self-Hardening Property and Its Application as a Sprayable Antiadhesion Barrier

Considering recent advances in surgical techniques, sprayable antiadhesion barriers that are compatible with minimally invasive procedures are needed. However, the relatively low mechanical stiffness of the current thixotropic reversible sol-to-gel transition hydrogels has hindered their medical application. Herein, we show a thixotropic sprayable β-chitin nanofiber hydrogel that spontaneously lost the thixotropic property in response to the environments within the living body. Furthermore, interactions between hydrogels and the biological environment result in a significant increase in mechanical stiffness. Due to these advantageous properties, β-chitin nanofiber hydrogels administered by spray prevent postoperative abdominal adhesions and are thus promising sprayable antiadhesion barriers.