Fast Curing Multifunctional Tissue Adhesives of Sericin-Based Polyurethane-Acrylates for Sternal Closure.

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Wire cerclage is standard for sternal closure but causes tissue trauma, infection risk, and operator errors.
• Tissue adhesives offer a potential solution to mitigate complications and enhance tissue regeneration post-sternotomy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel, biocompatible, and biodegradable polyurethane-acrylate (PU-A) tissue adhesive.
• To assess the PU-A adhesive's efficacy and safety as a supportive material for sternal closure, aiming to overcome wire cerclage limitations.

Main Methods:

• Synthesized PU-A adhesives using biocompatible monomers including silk sericin, polyethylene glycol, dopamine, and 4,4'-methylenebis(cyclohexyl isocyanate).
• Characterized adhesion strength (4322 kPa) and compressive strength (715 kPa) ex vivo.
• Evaluated biocompatibility (L-929 cells), biodegradability, and antibacterial properties (E. coli, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus).
• Conducted in vivo study on rats, comparing PU-A adhesive with cyanoacrylate and wire cerclage for sternal fixation.

Main Results:

• The PU-A adhesive demonstrated high adhesion and compressive strength.
• It exhibited excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability, and broad-spectrum antibacterial activity.
• In vivo studies showed reduced inflammation in PU-A treated groups compared to cyanoacrylate and wire cerclage.

Conclusions:

• The developed PU-A tissue adhesive is a promising candidate for sternal fixation.
• It effectively supports bone healing while mitigating the drawbacks associated with traditional wire cerclage.
• This biomaterial offers a safer and potentially more effective approach to post-sternotomy care.