Emerging concepts of laser-activated nanoparticles for tissue bonding

We report recent achievements and future perspectives of minimally invasive bonding of biological tissues triggered by laser light. In particular, we review new advancements in the biomedical exploitation of near-infrared absorbing gold nanoparticles as an original solution for the photothermal closure of surgical incisions. Advanced concepts of laser tissue bonding involving the application of hybrid nanocomposites obtained by inclusion of nanochromophores into biopolymer scaffolds are also introduced. The perspectives of tissue bonding are discussed in the following aspects: (1) tissue bonding with highly-stabilized nanochromophores, (2) enhanced tissue bonding with patterned nanocomposites, (3) real-time monitoring of temperature distributions, (4) tracking of tissue regeneration based on the optical resonances of gold nanoparticles.