Comparative Analysis of Adhesive Strength and Flexibility in Surgical Sealants for Cardiovascular Surgery

The objective of this study was to compare the adhesive strength and flexibility of 3 surgical sealants-synthetic (Hydrofit; Sanyo Chemical Industries, Kyoto, Japan), albumin-based (BioGlue; Artivion, Kennesaw, GA, USA), and fibrin-based (Beriplast; CSL Behring, Tokyo, Japan)-which are commonly used in cardiovascular surgery but unexplored under identical experimental conditions.

Adhesive strength was evaluated using a tensile adhesion test on collagen, polyester, and polytetrafluoroethylene substrates. Flexibility was assessed by measuring the maximum stress and elongation at failure in Hydrofit and BioGlue film samples. Beriplast was excluded as it failed to form films.

Hydrofit and BioGlue showed similar collagen-collagen adhesion strengths (p = 0.11), while Beriplast was significantly weaker (p <0.01). Hydrofit outperformed both BioGlue and Beriplast (p <0.01) in collagen-polyester and collagen-expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) adhesions. Hydrofit also demonstrated a significantly higher elongation rate, strength, and maximum stress before rupture than BioGlue.

These surgical sealants possess distinct adhesive and mechanical characteristics. Hydrofit showed stable adhesion across various substrates, with notable flexibility. BioGlue displayed adequate adhesion on collagen surfaces but had restricted flexibility. Beriplast demonstrated reduced adhesion. Although only adhesive strength and flexibility were evaluated, such properties may offer valuable insights into sealant traits contextually. These potentially aid in the selection of appropriate sealants for cardiovascular procedures that require both durable adhesion and tissue compliance. Further in vivo validation is warranted.