CaproGlu: Multifunctional tissue adhesive platform

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Surgical Innovation

Background:

• Existing tissue adhesives often have limitations, including reliance on specific crosslinking chemistries, poor performance on wet tissues, and potential for adverse reactions.
• There is a clinical need for a strong, elastomeric tissue adhesive that is versatile, stable, and easy to use.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel synthetic biomaterial for tissue mending that overcomes the drawbacks of current bioadhesives.
• To create a multipurpose platform for tissue repair with enhanced adhesive properties on wet substrates.

Main Methods:

• A food-grade polycaprolactone was functionalized with carbene precursors (diazirines) to create CaproGlu, a low-viscosity, VOC-free prepolymer.
• CaproGlu was activated using low-energy UVA light (365 nm), inducing carbene diradical formation for rapid crosslinking of tissue surfaces.
• The material's properties, including shelf stability, sterilization compatibility (gamma), and adhesion on wet tissues, were evaluated.

Main Results:

• CaproGlu demonstrated rapid liquid-to-biorubber transition within seconds of UVA activation, forming a strong bond on wet tissue surfaces.
• The activated diazirine groups effectively crosslinked all amino acids, a capability not limited by the presence of water or solvents.
• The biomaterial exhibited exceptional shelf stability and maintained its properties after gamma sterilization.

Conclusions:

• CaproGlu represents a novel synthetic biomaterial with unique carbene-based crosslinking for tissue adhesion.
• Its rapid curing, strong wet-tissue bonding, and versatility make it a promising candidate for various clinical applications, including vascular anastomosis and muscle repair.
• The material's stability and ease of use offer a significant advancement over existing tissue adhesives.