Topological Densification-Reinforced Robust and Durable Protein Adhesive at Dynamic Interfaces

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Surgical Innovation
• Polymer Chemistry

Background:

• Effective tissue sealing and hemostasis are critical in surgery.
• Current biomimetic adhesives struggle with durability under high-velocity blood flow and complex application.
• Existing solutions often require multi-step reactions and lack robust adhesion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a robust and durable bioadhesive for demanding surgical applications.
• To overcome the limitations of current tissue sealants in wet environments and high-pressure bleeding.
• To engineer a high-performance bioadhesive using a topological densification strategy.

Main Methods:

• A topological densification strategy was employed.
• Engineered lysine-rich elastin-like protein was crosslinked with an ortho-phthalaldehyde-grafted star-type crosslinker.
• The crosslinking process involved rapid covalent bonding of lysine amines, creating a dense protein network and reducing hydration.

Main Results:

• The novel bioadhesive formulation achieved exceptionally strong and durable wet tissue adhesion (∼252 kPa).
• This adhesion strength significantly surpasses previously reported tissue adhesives and clinically used sealants.
• The platform successfully demonstrated clamp-free sealing of high-pressure arterial hemorrhage in large animals and safe dural repair.

Conclusions:

• The developed bioadhesive offers superior performance for wet tissue adhesion and hemostasis.
• This topological densification strategy provides a versatile design principle for high-performance bioadhesives.
• The engineered adhesive is suitable for challenging surgical settings, including arterial repair and dural defect closure.