1. Harvard‐MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA;2. Institut Qu?imic de Sarrià, Universitat Ramon Llull, Barcelona 08017, Spain;3. Biochemical Sciences and Engineering, Central Research and Development, DuPont Experimental Station, Wilmington, DE19880, USA;4. Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
Abstract:
Swellable PEG amine/dextran aldehyde composite materials are emerging as a controlled, biocompatible tissue adhesive. We explain how preservation of natural tissue amines provides biocompatibility for PEG/dextran that exceeds the stringent, destructive cyanide‐based chemistry of cyanoacrylates, and adhere far better than fibrin glue. Strategic variations of material composition allow for the improvement of biocompatibility and adhesion strength. Material variations can be tailored to match the needs of specific tissue beds for an array of clinical applications. PEG/dextran cohesive properties are most responsive to variations in the PEG component (number of arms and solid content), while tissue/material adhesion strength is primarily determined by the number of aldehydes in the dextran.
