Poster O8 - Bio-glue Injectable, Self-healing Hydrogel with firm tissue adhesion

Introduction: Wound healing is a complex process that relies on the body's natural ability to repair damaged tissue. In situations where major arteries are damaged, uncontrolled internal bleeding is a major cause of prehospital death in military personnel (Zhang et al., 2015). Hemostatic sealants should quickly control blood loss and be removed easily. Although hydrogel wound adhesives have gained attention as wound dressings, they often lack adequate tissue adhesion strength, release toxic substances, and exhibit uncontrolled degradation. This study introduces a novel approach to address this critical need through the development of an injectable and dissolvable hydrogel sealant.

Materials and

Methods: The research design involved formulating an interpenetrating network (IPN) by combining medium molecular weight chitosan and low molecular weight Sodium alginate to enhance the gelation and crosslinking behavior of the adhesive hydrogel. This was achieved by incorporating calcium chloride and glutaraldehyde into the formulation. The adhesive properties to tissues were attributed to the presence of aldehyde groups, while the amino component was found to enhance the procoagulant capability. Also, the inclusion of amino components such as dopamine molecules (DOPA) enhanced adhesive properties. In vitro experiments were conducted using different tissues, including liver, gizzard, and heart tissues of chicken, to assess the adhesion of the formulated gels by creating wounds in the tissues and employing the glass slide inversion method.

Results, Conclusions, and Discussions: Preliminary findings suggest that altering the composition influences the structural properties and adhesiveness of the hydrogel. Hydrogel formation is contingent on the concentration of crosslinker and the adhesive components. In vitro experiments conducted on chicken liver, heart, and gizzard tissues revealed that the application of the hydrogel sealant resulted in subsequent closure of incisions within the tissue. This work not only can control bleeding in emergent scenarios, but also allow non-traumatic re-exposure of wounds during sub-sequent surgical care.

Acknowledgements (Optional): This work is supported by UNH Biomaterials and Medical Device Innovation Lab (BMDilab) and Tagliatela College of Engineering