The present invention relates to the discovery that biocompatible
anionic polymers can effectively inhibit
fibrosis, scar formation, and
surgical adhesions. The invention is predicated on the discovery that
anionic polymers effectively inhibit invasion of cells associated with detrimental healing processes, and in particular, that the effectiveness of an anionic
polymer at inhibiting
cell invasion correlates with the anionic
charge density of the
polymer. Thus the present invention provides a large number of materials for use in methods of inhibiting
fibrosis and
fibroblast invasion.
Anionic polymers for use in the invention include but are not limited to natural proteoglycans, and the
glycosaminoglycan moieties of proteoglycans. Additionally, anionic carbohydrates and other
anionic polymers may be used. The anionic polymers
dextran sulfate and pentosan polysulfate are preferred. In a more preferred embodiment,
dextran sulfate, in which the
sulfur content is greater than about 10% by weight, may be used. In a more preferred embodiment, the average molecular weight is about 40,000 to 500,000 Daltons. The present invention provides compositions and methods to inhibit
fibrosis and scarring associated with
surgery. The invention further provides compositions and methods to inhibit glial
cell invasion, detrimental
bone growth and
neurite outgrowth. In a preferred embodiment, the inhibitory compositions further comprise an
adhesive protein.