3D-Printable Tissue Adhesive with Blood-Repelling Feature to Revolutionize Surgical Wound Closure

Researchers from MIT (Cambridge, MA, USA) have developed a groundbreaking 3D-printable tissue adhesive that demonstrates superior tissue adhesion, quickly seals wounds in various surgical conditions, and features an innovative blood-repelling feature. The adhesive is made of a special ink that combines poly(acrylic acid) and polyurethane. This composition is key to its strong adhesion, with specific chemical groups forming a tight bond with biological tissues. The researchers enhanced the adhesive by adding a hydrophobic matrix, which repels blood and acts as a barrier against bodily fluids, maintaining the adhesive's effectiveness even in bleeding tissues. Most tissue adhesives struggle in such conditions, making it hard to stop bleeding.

Moreover, the addition of a hydrophobic protective matrix in the adhesive further boosts its functionality, providing a shield against bodily fluids and preserving its integrity in challenging bleeding scenarios. In tests, this 3D printable tissue adhesive outperformed existing commercial adhesives in adhering to tissues. This blood-repellent feature makes the 3D printable tissue adhesive a game-changer in the field of biomedical materials. It overcomes the limitations of existing adhesives in bleeding scenarios and could be used in everything from closing wounds to creating bio-integrated devices. The adhesive's capabilities suggest it could revolutionize not just wound closure but also pave the way for a range of tissue-interacting devices. Going forward, the researchers aim to focus on developing devices that interface with soft tissues, using this adhesive as a key component.

"Leveraging the 3D printability of our material opens up exciting possibilities for designing patches with tissue-specific properties, paving the way for more personalized tissue-repair solutions," said Sarah Wu, a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at MIT.

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