09 February 2024 | Sarah J. Wu, Jingjing Wu, Samuel J. Kaser, Heejung Roh, Ruth D. Shiferaw, Hyunwoo Yuk, Xuanhe Zhao
This paper presents a 3D printable tissue adhesive that can be used to fabricate bioadhesive patches and devices with programmable architectures. The adhesive is conformable, stretchable, and exhibits robust adhesion with wet tissues within seconds, demonstrating favorable biocompatibility. In vivo rat trachea and colon defect models show that the printed patches maintain adhesion over 4 weeks and achieve fluid-tight sealing. The incorporation of a blood-repelling hydrophobic matrix enables the patches to seal actively bleeding tissues. Beyond wound closure, the 3D printable adhesive has broad applicability in various tissue-interfacing devices, as demonstrated through proof-of-concept designs. The platform offers a promising strategy for developing advanced tissue adhesive technologies, addressing the limitations of traditional sutures and staples in surgical procedures.This paper presents a 3D printable tissue adhesive that can be used to fabricate bioadhesive patches and devices with programmable architectures. The adhesive is conformable, stretchable, and exhibits robust adhesion with wet tissues within seconds, demonstrating favorable biocompatibility. In vivo rat trachea and colon defect models show that the printed patches maintain adhesion over 4 weeks and achieve fluid-tight sealing. The incorporation of a blood-repelling hydrophobic matrix enables the patches to seal actively bleeding tissues. Beyond wound closure, the 3D printable adhesive has broad applicability in various tissue-interfacing devices, as demonstrated through proof-of-concept designs. The platform offers a promising strategy for developing advanced tissue adhesive technologies, addressing the limitations of traditional sutures and staples in surgical procedures.