Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41917028›Full record

ArticleNature communications2026

Preventing peritendinous adhesions using lubricious supramolecular hydrogels.

Emily L Meany, Christian M Williams, Ye Eun Song, Vanessa M Doulames, Alakesh Alakesh, Sophia J Bailey, Shoshana C Williams, Carolyn K Jons, Paige M Fox, Eric A Appel

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Emily L Meany *Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-9060-1253
Christian M Williams *Department of Material Science & Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
Ye Eun SongDepartment of Material Science & Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-8764-8077
Vanessa M DoulamesDepartment of Material Science & Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-4800-3692
Alakesh AlakeshDepartment of Material Science & Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-8038-0434
Sophia J BaileyDepartment of Material Science & Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
Shoshana C WilliamsSarafan ChEM- H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-5669-6340
Carolyn K JonsDepartment of Material Science & Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
Paige M FoxRobert A. Chase Hand and Upper Limb Center, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA, USA. pfox@stanford.edu.ORCID 0000-0002-4166-8547
Eric A AppelDepartment of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA. eappel@stanford.edu.ORCID 0000-0002-2301-7126

Funding

Stanford University (SU) Terman Faculty FellowshipU.S. Department of Health & Human Services | National Institutes of Health (NIH) T32-GM008412
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Over 30-40% of 1.5 million annual hand flexor tendon injuries in the United States result in peritendinous adhesions which limit range of motion (ROM) and severely impact quality of life. Currently, no widespread solution exists for adhesion prevention in the delicate space of the digit while allowing full ROM quickly following surgery. Here, we develop dynamically crosslinked, bioresorbable supramolecular hydrogels as easy-to-apply peritendinous adhesion barriers. These hydrogels exhibit long-term stability, injectability, and thermally stable viscoelastic properties that enable simple storage and application. Interactions at the interface of hydrogel and human tissues demonstrate maintenance of a lubricious hydrogel barrier between tissues. Ex vivo studies show cadaveric tendon biomechanics are unimpaired. Application in preclinical rat tendon injury reveals prolonged hydrogel retention and improved functional recovery, including ROM and maximal dorsiflexion. These hydrogels are safe, do not impair tendon healing, and present a scalable intervention to limit peritendinous adhesions with translational potential.

Indexed as

HydrogelsTendon InjuriesTendonsAnimalsBiomechanical PhenomenaHumansMaleRange of Motion, ArticularRatsRats, Sprague-DawleyTissue AdhesionsHydrogels

Identifiers

PMID41917028
PMCPMC13201579

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.