Development of a Multifunctional, Moisture-Responsive Bioadhesive Powder for Rapid Hemostasis, Drug Delivery, and...

Tissue adhesion is essential in numerous clinical procedures-including hemostasis, suturing, tumor resection, and repair of gastrointestinal perforations-and is increasingly critical for rapidly evolving minimally invasive surgeries. Bioadhesives join tissues quickly while reducing operative time, blood loss, and trauma; however, many current products show limited biocompatibility and inadequate adhesive strength or stability under wet, dynamic physiological conditions, restricting their clinical use. To overcome these shortcomings, this study evaluated a new lyophilized bioadhesive powder (Azide-Modified BSA/Gelatin/4-Arm PEG-DBCO Powder, AGP powder). Through dibenzocyclooctyne (DBCO)-azide click chemistry, AGP powder gels within seconds on moist tissue surfaces and provides robust adhesion. Supplied as a dry powder, it can be stored for long periods at room temperature and applied intraoperatively by simple spraying or sprinkling. In vitro and in vivo tests demonstrated rapid bleeding control, strong hemostatic efficacy, and efficient slow-release drug delivery to local tissues. AGP powder firmly anchors miniature electronic devices such as Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) chips for in vivo monitoring, remains highly biocompatible, and biodegrades almost completely within 14 days, eliminating the need for removal. Collectively, the powder's strong adhesion, multifunctionality (drug delivery and device fixation), safety profile, and extended shelf-life indicate that AGP powder represents a highly promising bioadhesive solution for a broad range of biomedical applications.