Properties and effects of a drug-loaded haemostatic sponge

Abstract Some cases of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) require surgical treatment and postoperative nasal packing, but bleeding and adhesion are common complications after nasal surgery. Biodegradable drug-loaded implants hold great therapeutic options for the treatment of CRS, but little data are available regarding the properties and effects of a novel drug-loaded haemostatic sponge (DLHS) in the nasal cavity and sinus. In this study, in vitro and in vivo experiments were used to test the physicochemical properties and investigate the biocompatibility and effectiveness of DLHS. The results showed that DLHSs present outstanding porosity and liquid absorption capacity, which might enhance their haemostatic ability, and they possess sustained-release ability for drugs. Further clinical trials confirmed their clinical efficacy and safety, and there was no evidence of adrenal cortical suppression. This study demonstrates the safety and efficacy of a novel biodegradable drug-loaded sponge with the possibility of being used in CRS patients, and this sponge may reduce inflammation and minimize adhesions via controlled local drug delivery without measurable systemic exposure.