Engineering a highly elastic human protein-based sealant for surgical applications

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Engineering
• Regenerative Medicine
• Surgical Innovation

Background:

• Current surgical sealants exhibit limitations including poor adhesion, inadequate mechanical strength, and cytotoxicity.
• These deficiencies hinder effective tissue sealing and repair in clinical settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To engineer a novel biocompatible and highly elastic hydrogel sealant with tunable adhesion properties.
• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the methacryloyl-substituted tropoelastin (MeTro) sealant in preclinical models.

Main Methods:

• Photocrosslinking of recombinant human protein tropoelastin to create the MeTro hydrogel.
• In vivo testing in rodent models (artery sealing, lung leakage) and a porcine lung leakage model.
• Assessment of biocompatibility, degradation, adhesion, mechanical properties, and sealing efficacy.

Main Results:

• Subcutaneous implantation in rodents showed low toxicity and controlled degradation of MeTro.
• Successful artery sealing in rats with adequate blood circulation and normal lung function in leakage models.
• Complete sealing of severely leaking lung tissue in pigs without sutures or staples, with no pneumothorax observed during 14-day follow-up.

Conclusions:

• The engineered MeTro sealant exhibits superior adhesion and mechanical properties compared to existing commercial sealants.
• MeTro demonstrates significant potential for clinical applications in tissue sealing and repair.
• Further optimization of MeTro's degradation rate can tailor it for diverse surgical needs.