Photocurable bioadhesive based on lactic acid

Renewable Photo-Cross-Linkable Polyester-Based Biomaterials: Synthesis, Characterization, and Cytocompatibility Assessment

The present work consist of the synthesis of photo-cross-linkable materials, based on unsaturated polyesters (UPs), synthesized from biobased monomers from renewable sources such as itaconic acid and 1,4-butanediol. The UPs were characterized to assess the influence of polycondensation reaction temperature and cross-linking time on their final properties. For this purpose, different UV irradiation exposure periods were tested. Homogeneous, uniform, and transparent films were obtained after 1, 3, and 5 min of UV exposure. These cross-linked films were then characterized. All materials presented high gel content, which was dependent on the reaction's temperature. The thermal behaviors of the UPs were shown to be similar. In vitro hydrolytic degradation tests showed that the materials can undergo degradation in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) at pH 7.4 and 37 °C, ensuring their biodegradability over time. Finally, to assess the applicability of the polyesters as biomaterials, their cytocompatibility was determined by using human dermal fibroblasts.

Bioadhesives with Antimicrobial Properties

Bioadhesives with antimicrobial properties enable easier and safer treatment of wounds as compared to the traditional methods such as suturing and stapling. Composed of natural or synthetic polymers, these bioadhesives seal wounds and facilitate healing while preventing infections through the activity of locally released antimicrobial drugs, nanocomponents, or inherently antimicrobial polers. Although many different materials and strategies are employed to develop antimicrobial bioadhesives, the design of these biomaterials necessitates a prudent approach as achieving all the required properties including optimal adhesive and cohesive properties, biocompatibility, and antimicrobial activity can be challenging. Designing antimicrobial bioadhesives with tunable physical, chemical, and biological properties will shed light on the path for future advancement of bioadhesives with antimicrobial properties. In this review, the requirements and commonly used strategies for developing bioadhesives with antimicrobial properties are discussed. In particular, different methods for their synthesis and their experimental and clinical applications on a variety of organs are reviewed. Advances in the design of bioadhesives with antimicrobial properties will pave the way for a better management of wounds to increase positive clinical outcomes.

Degradable Bioadhesives Based on Star PEG-PLA Hydrogels for Soft Tissue Applications

Tissue adhesives are interesting materials for wound treatment as they present numerous advantages compared to traditional methods of wound closure such as suturing and stapling. Nowadays, fibrin and cyanoacrylate glues are the most widespread commercial biomedical adhesives, but these systems display some drawbacks. In this study, degradable bioadhesives based on PEG-PLA star-shaped hydrogels are designed. Acrylate, methacrylate, and catechol functional copolymers are synthesized and used to design various bioadhesive hydrogels. Various types of mechanisms responsible for adhesion are investigated (physical entanglement and interlocking, physical interactions, chemical bonds), and the adhesive properties of the different systems are first studied on a gelatin model and compared to fibrin and cyanoacrylate references. Hydrogels based on acrylate and methacrylate reached adhesion strength close to cyanoacrylate (332 kPa) with values of 343 and 293 kPa, respectively, whereas catechol systems displayed higher values (11 and 19 kPa) compared to fibrin glue (7 kPa). Bioadhesives were then tested on mouse skin and human cadaveric colonic tissue. The results on mouse skin confirmed the potential of acrylate and methacrylate gels with adhesion strength close to commercial glues (15-30 kPa), whereas none of the systems led to high levels of adhesion on the colon. These data confirm that we designed a family of degradable bioadhesives with adhesion strength in the range of commercial glues. The low level of cytotoxicity of these materials is also demonstrated and confirm the potential of these hydrogels to be used as surgical adhesives.

Polymeric Tissue Adhesives

Polymeric tissue adhesives provide versatile materials for wound management and are widely used in a variety of medical settings ranging from minor to life-threatening tissue injuries. Compared to the traditional methods of wound closure (i.e., suturing and stapling), they are relatively easy to use, enable rapid application, and introduce minimal tissue damage. Furthermore, they can act as hemostats to control bleeding and provide a tissue-healing environment at the wound site. Despite their numerous current applications, tissue adhesives still face several limitations and unresolved challenges (e.g., weak adhesion strength and poor mechanical properties) that limit their use, leaving ample room for future improvements. Successful development of next-generation adhesives will likely require a holistic understanding of the chemical and physical properties of the tissue-adhesive interface, fundamental mechanisms of tissue adhesion, and requirements for specific clinical applications. In this review, we discuss a set of rational guidelines for design of adhesives, recent progress in the field along with examples of commercially available adhesives and those under development, tissue-specific considerations, and finally potential functions for future adhesives. Advances in tissue adhesives will open new avenues for wound care and potentially provide potent therapeutics for various medical applications.

Synthesis of Lactic Acid-Based Thermosetting Resins and Their Ageing and Biodegradability

The present work is focused on the synthesis of bio-based thermoset polymers and their thermo–oxidative ageing and biodegradability. Toward this aim, bio-based thermoset resins with different chemical architectures were synthesized from lactic acid by direct condensation with ethylene glycol, glycerol and pentaerythritol. The resulting branched molecules with chain lengths (n) of three were then end-functionalized with methacrylic anhydride. The chemical structures of the synthesized lactic acid derivatives were confirmed by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H-NMR) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT–IR) before curing. To evaluate the effects of structure on their properties, the samples were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and the tensile testing. The samples went through thermo-oxidative ageing and biodegradation; and their effects were investigated. FT-IR and ¹H-NMR results showed that three different bio-based resins were synthesized using polycondensation and end-functionalization. Lactic acid derivatives showed great potential to be used as matrixes in polymer composites. The glass transition temperature of the cured resins ranged between 44 and 52 °C. Pentaerythritol/lactic acid cured resin had the highest tensile modulus and it was the most thermally stable among all three resins. Degradative processes during ageing of the samples lead to the changes in chemical structures and the variations in Young’s modulus. Microscopic images showed the macro-scale surface degradation on a soil burial test.

CaproGlu: Multifunctional tissue adhesive platform

Driven by the clinical need for a strong tissue adhesive with elastomeric material properties, a departure from legacy crosslinking chemistries was sought as a multipurpose platform for tissue mending. A fresh approach to bonding wet substrates has yielded a synthetic biomaterial that overcomes the drawbacks of free-radical and nature-inspired bioadhesives. A food-grade liquid polycaprolactone grafted with carbene precursors yields CaproGlu. The first-of-its-kind low-viscosity prepolymer is VOC-free and requires no photoinitiators. Grafted diazirine end-groups form carbene diradicals upon low energy UVA (365 nm) activation that immediately crosslink tissue surfaces; no pre-heating or animal-derived components are required. The hydrophobic polymeric environment enables metastable functional groups not possible in formulations requiring solvents or water. Activated diazirine within CaproGlu is uniquely capable of crosslinking all amino acids, even on wet tissue substrates. CaproGlu undergoes rapid liquid-to-biorubber transition within seconds of UVA exposure-features not found in any other bioadhesive. The exceptional shelf stability of CaproGlu allows gamma sterilization with no change in material properties. CaproGlu wet adhesiveness is challenged against current unmet clinical needs: anastomosis of spliced blood vessels, anesthetic muscle patches, and human platelet-mediating coatings. The versatility of CaproGlu enables both organic and inorganic composites for future bioadhesive platforms.

The recent progress of tissue adhesives in design strategies, adhesive mechanism and applications

Tissue adhesives have emerged as an effective method for wound closure and hemostasis in recent decades, due to their ability to bond tissues together, preventing separation from one tissue to another. However, existing tissue adhesives still have several limitations. Tremendous efforts have been invested into developing new tissue adhesives by improving upon existing adhesives through different strategies. Therefore, highlighting and analyzing these design strategies are essential for developing the next generation of advanced adhesives. To this end, we reviewed the available strategies for modifying traditional adhesives (including cyanoacrylate glues, fibrin sealants and BioGlue), as well as design of emerging adhesives (including gelatin sealants, methacrylated sealants and bioinspired adhesives), focusing on their structures, adhesive mechanisms, advantages, limitations, and current applications. The bioinspired adhesives have numerous advantages over traditional adhesives, which will be a wise direction for achieving tissue adhesives with superior properties.

Candidate Polyurethanes Based on Castor Oil (Ricinus communis), with Polycaprolactone Diol and Chitosan Additions, for Use in Biomedical Applications

Polyurethanes are widely used in the development of medical devices due to their biocompatibility, degradability, non-toxicity and chemical versatility. Polyurethanes were obtained from polyols derived from castor oil, and isophorone diisocyanate, with the incorporation of polycaprolactone-diol (15% w/w) and chitosan (3% w/w). The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of the type of polyol and the incorporation of polycaprolactone-diol and chitosan on the mechanical and biological properties of the polyurethanes to identify the optimal ones for applications such as wound dressings or tissue engineering. Polyurethanes were characterized by stress-strain, contact angle by sessile drop method, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, water uptake and in vitro degradation by enzymatic processes. In vitro biological properties were evaluated by a 24 h cytotoxicity test using the colorimetric assay MTT and the LIVE/DEAD kit with cell line L-929 (mouse embryonic fibroblasts). In vitro evaluation of the possible inflammatory effect of polyurethane-based materials was evaluated by means of the expression of anti-inflammatory and proinflammatory cytokines expressed in a cellular model such as THP-1 cells by means of the MILLIPLEX® MAP kit. The modification of polyols derived from castor oil increases the mechanical properties of interest for a wide range of applications. The polyurethanes evaluated did not generate a cytotoxic effect on the evaluated cell line. The assessed polyurethanes are suggested as possible candidate biomaterials for wound dressings due to their improved mechanical properties and biocompatibility.

A Bio Polymeric Adhesive Produced by Photo Cross-Linkable Technique

The advantages of photo polymerization methods compared to thermal techniques are: rapid cure reactions, low energy demands, solvent free requirements and room temperature use. In order to form a macromer, polycaprolactone (PCL) was cross-linked via ultraviolet power with 2-isocyanatoethyl methacrylate. Different methods of characterization were carried out: estimation of swelling capacity, adhesive capacity (using aminated substrates), surface energy (by contact angle), and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared. In addition to these experiments, we carried out dynamical mechanical thermal analysis, thermogravimetry and thermorphology characterizations of PCL. Thus, it has been concluded that the prepared macromer could be transformed into membranes that were effective as a medical adhesive. The degree of cross linking has been estimated using two different techniques: swelling of the samples and photo cross linking of the samples with different periods of irradiation at relatively high UV-power (600 mW/cm²).