crosslinked carboxymethyl hyaluronic acid

Crosslinked carboxymethyl hyaluronic acid (CCMHA) is a biocompatible and bioresorbable hydrogel designed to act as a physical barrier for the prevention of postoperative adhesions. The modification of native hyaluronic acid through carboxymethylation followed by crosslinking (typically using 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether) creates a stable, high-viscosity gel that resists enzymatic degradation by hyaluronidases longer than non-modified hyaluronan. In the clinical context of cardiac surgery, specifically for the treatment or prevention of pericardial adhesions (DOID:12895), the gel is applied to the surface of the heart (epicardium) and the inner lining of the chest cavity. This transient physical separation prevents the formation of fibrin-rich bridges between opposing tissue surfaces during the critical 3 to 5-day window of mesothelial repair, thereby reducing the incidence and severity of dense adhesions that can complicate future surgical interventions. The technology was notably developed by Aalst Medical Sciences and later managed by Genzyme.

Brand names

SentiaSepragel Heart

Other names

CCMHAcrosslinked sodium carboxymethyl hyaluronatecarboxymethyl hyaluronan gelcross-linked carboxymethyl hyaluronic acid