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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2023 Jan 6.
Published in final edited form as: Acta Biomater. 2021 Jul 7;131:222–235. doi: 10.1016/j.actbio.2021.06.048

Fig. 7. In vivo model for testing pleural sealant.

Fig. 7.

(a) Anesthetized, intubated and mechanically ventilated rats underwent thoracotomy to expose the right lung. (b) Injury is induced by puncture with an 18 g needle and leak of air bubbles observed to confirm injury. (c) The sealant is applied with cessation of air leak. (d) Necropsy of rat 1 week or month post operatively. Residual ALG-MA-DA patch material was observed in rats receiving ALG-MA-DA patch (black arrow). No GEL-MA-DA material was grossly visible in rats receiving GEL-MA-DA in situ formed hydrogel application. In neither case was obvious inflammatory reaction or evidence of sealant observed on the parietal pleura/chest wall. High power images are included for panels a-e. (f) Representative fluoroscopy after 1 week demonstrates clear lungs and no obvious pneumothorax. (g) and (h) Representative CT scans at 1 month demonstrates clear lungs and no pneumothorax. White arrows point the ribs; yellow arrows demonstrate a fully inflated lung and red arrows show the position of the heart.