Chitosan-dextran gel alleviates inflammation, biofilm formation, and abnormal cell proliferation in chronic cervicitis.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of chitosan-dextran gel in patients with chronic cervicitis by assessing its anti-inflammatory, anti-biofilm, and anti-proliferative activities.

METHODS

A total of 160 patients diagnosed with chronic cervicitis were randomly assigned to a control group (conventional pharmacotherapy) or an observation group (chitosan-dextran gel), with 80 participants in each. Serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cervical biofilm formation was evaluated via microscopy, and cervical epithelial cell proliferation and apoptosis were assessed using the CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry. Treatment efficacy and the incidence of adverse reactions were recorded and compared between groups.

RESULTS

Following treatment, the observation group showed significantly lower TNF-α and CRP levels than the control group (P < 0.05). In addition, cervical biofilm coverage and thickness were markedly reduced, while cell viability decreased and apoptosis increased in the chitosan-dextran gel group compared with controls (P < 0.05). The overall clinical efficacy rate was significantly higher in the observation group (P < 0.05), and there was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Chitosan-dextran gel demonstrates strong anti-inflammatory, anti-biofilm, and anti-proliferative actions in patients with chronic cervicitis, effectively improving clinical outcomes without increasing adverse effects. These results indicate that chitosan-dextran gels may represent a novel and effective option for the treatment of chronic cervicitis.