Micropore-forming photocurable tissue adhesive promotes cell infiltration for wound healing

Tissue adhesives suffer from a trade-off relationship between tissue adhesion strength for long-term wound closure and degradation rate for tissue regeneration, which results in the suppression of postoperative wound healing. Here, we report the development of micropore-forming tissue adhesives with an enhanced cell infiltration capacity for tissue regeneration. By leveraging the phase-separation behavior of gelatin modified with hydrogen-bonding moieties, bicontinuous and micropore-forming photocrosslinked hydrogels were developed. The photocrosslinked hydrogels are injectable and enzymatically degradable, showing high tissue adhesive strength against tissues of the collagen membrane, heart, stomach, and large intestine. Moreover, the microporous structure of the hydrogels could enhance fibroblast infiltration through the micropores. These hydrogels could also induce hair follicle regeneration and wound healing in skin incision wound models. This tissue adhesive has enormous potential for promoting wound healing and preventing postoperative complications. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Our study furthers the development of tissue adhesives to overcome a trade-off relationship between tissue adhesion strength for long-term wound closure and degradation rate for tissue regeneration. Micropore-forming tissue adhesives with an enhanced cell infiltration capacity was developed which can be used for tissue regeneration. By leveraging the phase-separation behavior of gelatin modified with hydrogen-bonding moieties, bicontinuous and micropore-forming photocrosslinked hydrogels were developed. The photocrosslinked hydrogels with micropores are injectable and enzymatically degradable, showing high tissue adhesive strength and cell infiltration. This tissue adhesive has enormous potential for promoting wound healing and preventing postoperative complications.