IISER Bhopal researchers develop synthetic biomedical adhesive to repair injured tissues

According to a press release by IISER Bhopal, this adhesive is biodegradable and biocompatible and will find use in cosmetics and biological applications.

Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal (IISER Bhopal) researchers have developed a clear synthetic biomedical adhesive that can effectively seal and repair injured and dissected tissues.

IISER Bhopal researchers developed a clear synthetic biomedical adhesive that can effectively seal and repair injured and dissected tissues.(Handout)

According to a press release by IISER Bhopal, this adhesive, which is biodegradable and biocompatible, is capable of binding different surfaces such as tissues, bones, eggshells, and wood in both air and underwater and requires no additional crosslinking agents or metal ions.

Such adhesives that are biodegradable and biocompatible find applications in medicine, dentistry, drug delivery, and tissue engineering. These are also used in orthopedic procedures to enhance bone repair and can even be used as an alternative to sutures, staples, and wires, in wound closures. They could also be used in eco-friendly packaging applications and products, contributing to sustainable practices in various industries, informed IISER Bhopal.

The research was led by Prof Aasheesh Srivastava, Faculty, Department of Chemistry, IISER Bhopal, Dr Aashish Sharma, Associate Prof in the School of Medical and Allied Sciences, G D Goenka University, Haryana, and Dr Tanmay Dutta, Postdoctoral Researcher - IISER Bhopal. Their findings have been published in the journal Chemistry – A European Journal, mentioned the press release.

“Biomedical adhesives are bonding and sealing materials that provide support and cohesion to repair tissues and are extensively used in medicine. Suitable materials for these adhesives can be found in nature and are commonly secreted by underwater organisms such as sandcastle worms and mussels," said Prof Aasheesh Srivastava, Faculty, Department of Chemistry, IISER Bhopal.

Biomimetic adhesives have been developed and applied as adhesives in the past. However, they came with their shortcomings. For example, biomimetic adhesives that have been made from natural polymers such as fibrin, collagen, gelatin, and chitosan, have a risk of triggering immunological reactions, and may not always be useful in cosmetics and surface tissue adhesion applications. Furthermore, these adhesives are not transparent and can have different colours, which may affect the aesthetic value. Hence, there is a need to develop biocompatible, transparent adhesive systems that are also cost-effective, said IISER Bhopal.

“We used a mixture of oppositely-charged water-soluble polyelectrolytes that are known for their biodegradability and biocompatibility. These polymers have multiple amide groups and thiol residues that lead to strong adhesion due to the formation of hydrogen bonds and disulfide bonds. The resulting adhesive layer is colourless and transparent," said Prof Aasheesh Srivastava.

To test their binding capabilities, three different formulations were developed and applied directly to various pressed substrates to achieve adherence. One of them which the authors called ‘A30’ had excellent adhesive action and could bind a variety of substrates such as mammalian bones, wood, glass, mica, and aluminum. The researchers at IISER Bhopal also add that adhesive A30 had a porosity of 40% which can help a great deal in tissue regeneration by allowing cell movement through the adhesive layer. This way weight or pressure across the adhered joint is distributed across the tissue surface which can lead to quicker healing.

“Our A30 adhesive could even bind bones while fully submerged under water, and after curing the adhered bone pieces could bear large weights while remaining bonded. Our adhesive provides a maximum adhesion strength of about 7 kg/cm2. This makes it a promising glue for bone restoration and fracture repair,” said Dr Tanmay Dutta, Postdoctoral Researcher - IISER Bhopal.

The adhesive formulations developed by the IISER team will find use in cosmetics and biological applications. The researchers are working towards optimizing these adhesives for such real-life applications, stated the press release.