Pharmacist Eva Esser


historic



Main research


Abdominal adhesions are one of the major problems associated with abdominal surgeries or abdominal trauma. They are mostly accompanied with pain and inflammation and for their complete removal often a secondary surgery is needed. There are many different therapeutic options investigated to prevent the formation of postsurgical adhesions. They can be either suppressed using appropriate medication or alternatively biodegradable barriers are applied at the site of trauma. These biodegradable films, e.g. SurgiWrap®, have to be additionally sutured to the damaged tissue, which may later cause further adhesions of the surrounding tissue.

Biodegradable polymer films for adhesion prophylaxis


The aim of my work is to optimize the commercially available polymers films. They should become easier to handle for the surgeon, either by temporary fixation until suturing or even a permanent local adhesion so that they don’t have to be sutured anymore. Furthermore the prepared films are loaded with different drug substances to inhibit inflammation and suppress pain associated with the surgery. For the improved film preparation several polymers are tested alone or in combination with each other. The films are investigated in terms of erosion, mechanical stability as well as adhesion to the tissue.

Scientific career


• Since 11/2012: Graduate student at the Department for Functional Materials in Medicine and Dentistry, University of Wuerzburg (Prof. Dr. Jürgen Groll)
• 07/2010-10/2012: Graduate student at the Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Regensburg (Prof. Dr. Achim Göpferich)
• 2004-2009: Undergraduate student at the Institute of Pharmacy, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf


Publications


E. Esser, J.K.V. Tessmar
Preparation of well-defined calcium cross-linked alginate films for the prevention of surgical adhesions
Journal of Biomedical Materials Research B 2013; 101B(5): 826–839.

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