Preliminary Clinical Assessment of Polyvinyl Alcohol-Tetrahydroxyborate Hydrogels as Potential Topical Formulations for Local Anesthesia of Lacerations

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess a novel semisolid material as a potential topical drug delivery system for acute laceration. The objectives were to correlate physical characterization data using rheologic studies and to compare with clinical assessment of performance in an emergency department (ED).Methods: Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogels, cross-linked using tetrahydroxyborate (THB), were characterized using texture profile analysis. Formulation samples were applied to acute lacerations presented to the ED and factors, such as in vivo residency time and cohesive removal, were assessed.Results: Viscosity was shown to be related to mechanical characteristics, whereas adhesiveness depended on the THB concentration. Residence in, and clean removal from, lacerations was evaluated on 29 patients. Formulation F3 (10.0% PVA, 2.5% w ⁄ w THB) displayed the most appropriate characteristics for clinical use by scoring highest in qualitative assessments. Other formulations exhibited difficulties in application and removal due to excessive adhesiveness. The release of a model local anesthetic drug was proportional to the concentration of drug incorporated, but was not substantially affected by small changes in the formulation constituents.

Recent advances in hydrogel based drug delivery systems for the human body

“…Hydrogels have been applied for acute laceration (AL) treatment. The clinical assessment study conducted by McCarron et al 47 of polyvinylalcohol-tetrahydroxyborate hydrogels applied to AL was presented to an Emergency Department. The cross linked PVA semisolids were found to be suitable for drug administration to AL and holds potential for the induction of anesthesia before the wound repair.…”

Wilderness Medical Society Practice Guidelines for Basic Wound Management in the Austere Environment

“…14,15 In addition to intradermal and subcutaneous injections, topical anesthetics have demonstrated efficacy, although a longer time (20-30 minutes) is required to achieve the desired effect. [16][17][18][19][20] The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the use of topical anesthetics, such as LET (4% lidocaine, 0.1% epinephrine, 0.5% tetracaine) for closure of simple lacerations. 18,19 Allergic reactions to anesthetic agents are very rare.…”

Nonlinear Pressure Drop Oscillations during Gelation in a Kenics Static Mixer

“…PVA is obtained by partial or perfect saponification of poly­(vinyl acetate), and it can crosslink with borate ions via reversible diol complex formation . PVA/borate hydrogel has been used as a glucose sensor, drug carrier, and topical anesthetic in the biomedical field and a cleaning tool for heritage repair . It was also used to study flow characteristics in a non-element mixer .…”