The aim of this study was to develop a material capable of rapidly absorbing bodily fluids and forming a resilient, adhesive, viscoelastic hydrogel in situ to prevent post-surgical adhesions. This material was formulated using O-carboxymethyl chitosan (O-CMCS), oxidized hyaluronic acid (OHA), and a crosslinking pigment derived from genipin and glutamic acid (G/GluP). Both crosslinked (O-CMCS/OHA-G/GluP) and non-crosslinked hydrogels (O-CMCS/OHA) were evaluated using a HAAKE™ MARS™ rheometer for their potential as post-surgical barriers. A rheological analysis, including dynamic oscillatory measurements, revealed that the crosslinked hydrogels exhibited significantly higher elastic moduli (G′), indicating superior gel formation and mechanical stability compared to non-crosslinked hydrogels. The G/GluP crosslinker enhanced gel stability by increasing the separation between G′ and G″ and achieving a lower loss tangent (tan δ < 1.0), indicating robustness under dynamic physiological conditions. The rapid hydration and gelation properties of the hydrogels underscore their effectiveness as physical barriers. Furthermore, the O-CMCS/OHA-G/GluP hydrogel demonstrated rapid self-healing and efficient application via spraying or spreading, with tissue adherence and viscoelasticity to facilitate movement between tissues and organs, effectively preventing adhesions. Additionally, the hydrogel proved to be both cost effective and scalable, highlighting its potential for clinical applications aimed at preventing post-surgical adhesions.

This study explores an innovative topical formulation to treat alopecia by encapsulating cannabidiol (CBD) in chitosan nanoparticles. CBD, widely known for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and endocannabinoid-modulating effects, shows significant potential for treating alopecia, a condition characterized by hair loss influenced by genetic, hormonal, or environmental factors. However, its low water solubility presents a significant challenge for topical applications. To address this issue, chitosan nanoparticles were synthesized using chitosan of reduced molecular mass (270 kDa) with an acetylation level of 12%, β-glycerophosphate as a crosslinking agent, and 1% glycerol to improve CBD encapsulation efficiency. Physicochemical characterization using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), zeta potential measurement, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed that the β-glycerophosphate concentration impacted nanoparticle size and the electrostatic interactions between chitosan’s primary amines and phosphate groups of β-glycerophosphate. Among the tested concentrations (0.05, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.25 mol/L), 0.20 mol/L produced the smallest nanoparticles (390 nm), which were further optimized to encapsulate CBD, reaching a particle size of 227 nm. This optimized formulation may improve the solubility of CBD and enable targeted and sustained delivery to hair follicles. These findings highlight chitosan nanoparticles as a cutting-edge and scalable platform for transdermal delivery of hydrophobic bioactive compounds, presenting a promising approach for the effective management of alopecia.