Engineering an Injectable Tough Tissue Adhesive through Nanocellulose Reinforcement

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Surgical Innovation

Background:

• Current tissue adhesives often compromise between adhesion strength and biocompatibility.
• Inefficient material design limits the performance of existing surgical glues.
• Minimally invasive surgery benefits from effective wound closure and tissue regeneration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To engineer a versatile, injectable, and tough tissue adhesive.
• To enhance the mechanical properties and adhesion strength of hydrogel-based adhesives.
• To investigate the potential of nanocellulose reinforcement for medical applications.

Main Methods:

• Reinforcing hydrogels with nanocellulose (NC) to create NC-reinforced hydrogels.
• Evaluating the mechanical strength and tissue adhesion of the NC-reinforced hydrogels.
• Testing the biocompatibility and degradability of the hydrogels via subcutaneous implantation in rats.

Main Results:

• NC reinforcement significantly improved the mechanical strength of hydrogels, concentration-dependent.
• Tissue adhesion strength was drastically enhanced on various tissues (collagen casings, aorta, stomach).
• NC-reinforced hydrogels demonstrated biocompatibility and degradability in vivo.

Conclusions:

• Nanocellulose reinforcement offers a facile approach to engineer superior injectable tissue adhesives.
• This method enhances adhesion strength and mechanical properties of various hydrogel types.
• The developed adhesive holds significant potential for improving minimally invasive surgical procedures.