BACKGROUND: Saturating commercially available sinus dressings with steroid is a widespread practice to improve wound healing and reduce inflammation after sinus surgery. While multiple dressings are utilized, data regarding the amount of steroid released from these materials in the postoperative period is lacking. The purpose of this study is to provide in-vitro release profiles of triamcinolone acetonide (TA) impregnated dissolvable sinus dressings.
METHODS: Four dissolvable sinus dressing materials (synthetic polyurethane (sPU), esterified hyaluronan (EH), modified amylopectin (mAP), and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)) were selected. Identical volumes of each material were prepared using a 6-mm biopsy punch and placed on the porous inserts (0.4-micron pores) of an air-liquid culture system. The material was saturated with TA (0.6mg), and basal liquid (0.9% NaCl) was collected and replaced daily for 14 days. The TA concentration in the collected media was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
RESULTS: No initial burst release was identified in any material, and TA levels were detectable up to 14 days. ED and mAP released 40% of TA within a week. EH, mAP, and CMC exhibited significantly faster release of TA compared to sPU (Day 14-TA concentrations (mg): EH 0.3+/-0.08, mAP 0.32+/-0.07, CMC 0.26+/-0.11, sPU 0.13+/-0.06, p<0.0001, Tukey’s multiple comparison). TA was released significantly more slowly from sPU compared to other materials starting day 2, with 75% retained by day 14.
CONCLUSION: All materials demonstrated sustained release of TA over 14 days. sPU had the slowest release, indicating this dissolvable sinus dressing is more suitable if extended release of steroid is desired.