Technion Creates New Adhesive That Seals Wounds in Seconds

Technion scientists create adhesive that seals wounds in seconds

These new “PTLA bioadhesives” are made from natural tannic acid, polylysine, and other components. Through precise 3D printing, the team can customize these adhesives for different needs, ensuring high reproducibility and tailored applications.

Unlike conventional adhesives, these hydrogels stick strongly to wet tissue, sealing wounds within just five seconds and outperforming many commercial and recently reported advanced bioadhesives.

Thermal-induced shape memory property allows these applications via minimally invasive surgery. What sets PTLAs apart is their exceptional performance under extreme conditions, making them suitable for emergency medicine, battlefield care, and harsh environmental applications. “Nature is like a medicine chest with treatments for all kinds of conditions. One just has to discover them.”

“Many research groups have tried to make such adhesives, but we are the first to implement tannic acid for this and make polymers with the same chemistry that allows the production of molecules for this purpose.”

Tannic acid is a natural polyphenolic compound found in abundant plants, such as oak bark, hemlock, tea, grapes, and coffee. In terms of biological functions, it can inhibit the growth of various viruses and bacteria, as well as scavenge free radicals to reduce the release of inflammatory cytokines.

It also promotes the proliferation and migration of fibroblasts – connective tissue cells responsible for producing and maintaining the extracellular matrix that provides structural support to organs and tissues – and stimulates the production of collagen, thereby accelerating wound healing.

Tannic acid has been added to formulations of numerous adhesive materials as an additive assembled through physical interactions to enhance adhesive capability, but adhesion under wet conditions, especially on wet tissue surfaces, has been difficult to achieve. Unfortunately, when this adhesive was applied to wet tissues, its stickiness decreased by more than 20 times.

“We saw from medical literature that there can be surgical complications with staples and sutures, so we tried different models underwater. Our bioadhesive works speedily under extremely harsh environmental conditions, including low and high temperatures, underwater, and under high pressure. It can be prepared in just seconds. If an artery or vein is cut, the bleeding needs to be stopped as soon as possible. We would like to study its use for burn patients in the future. 

Additionally, PTLAs offer superior infection resistance, thanks to their antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. In severe cases, uncontrolled wound infections can spread into the bloodstream, leading to sepsis. Many people die from infections during the first days after surgery.

“Their self-gelling feature allows easy application as a dry powder, supporting long-term storage and practical use in diverse healthcare settings,” he added. “In the future, drugs could be included in the adhesive to promote healing,” said the Technion chemist.

“All-in-one PTLAs pave the way for improved tissue adhesion, hemostasis (the biological process that prevents and stops bleeding from a damaged blood vessel by creating a plug to seal the injury), and healthcare. They present transformative potential as bio-tapes, bio-bandages, bio-sealants, bio-carriers, etc., and set the stage for next-generation bioadhesive design.”

Physicians and scientists in Israel and abroad have reacted to the news with much excitement, and the new technology should interest the IDF Medical Corps as well.

https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/article-871577