Bioinspired Super-Strong Aqueous Synthetic Tissue Adhesives

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Surgical Innovation
• Adhesive Technology

Background:

• Current tissue adhesives and sealants have limitations on wet and dynamic tissues.
• Need for advanced surgical sealants with enhanced adhesion and biocompatibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and evaluate a novel biodegradable super-strong aqueous glue (B-Seal) for surgical applications.
• To address the limitations of existing adhesives on wet tissues.

Main Methods:

• Developed B-Seal using a water-borne biodegradable polyurethane (WPU) nanodispersion with mismatched particle sizes and counterions.
• Inspired by English ivy adhesion and cement particle packing theory.
• Evaluated adhesive strength (burst pressure, T-pull, lap shear) and in vivo efficacy on animal models.

Main Results:

• B-Seal demonstrated significantly higher burst pressure, T-pull adhesive strength, and lap shear strength compared to commercial sealants (DuraSeal®, fibrin glue).
• Achieved 24-fold greater burst pressure than DuraSeal®.
• Achieved 138-fold greater T-pull and 16-fold greater lap shear strength than fibrin glue.
• Validated safety and efficacy in preventing cerebrospinal fluid leaks and repairing dura in rat and porcine models.

Conclusions:

• The plant-inspired adhesion strategy and particle packing theory offer a new approach for next-generation wet tissue adhesives.
• B-Seal is a promising, fast-gelling, super-strong, and elastic sealant for surgical use.
• Validated efficacy for cerebrospinal fluid leak prevention and dura repair.