Medical adhesives are products that can be used to different usages such as injury recovery, hemostasis, vascular anastomosis, and tissue engineering, and they are anticipated to contribute considerably to the advancement of minimally intrusive surgical treatment and organ transplants. Adhesives that have high adhesion and low toxicity while likewise being capable of breaking down in the body are unusual.
Adhesives based upon natural proteins, such as fibrin and collagen, have high biocompatibility however inadequate adhesive strength. Artificial polymer adhesives based upon urethane or acrylic have higher adhesion however do not break down well and might trigger an inflammatory response in the body.
A joint research study group led by Professor Myungeun Seo and Professor Haeshin Lee from the KAIST Department of Chemistry has actually now established a bio-friendly adhesive from biocompatible polymers utilizing tannic acid, the source of astringency in red wine.
The research study group concentrated on tannic acid, a natural polyphenolic item. Tannic acid is a polyphenol present in big quantities in fruit peels, nuts, and cacao. It has a high affinity and finishing capability on other compounds, and we notice the astringent taste in red wine when tannic acid stays with the surface area of our tongue. When tannic acid is blended with hydrophilic polymers, they form coacervates, or little beads of jelly-like fluids that sink.
If the polymers utilized are biocompatible, the mix can be used as a medical adhesive with low toxicity. Coacervates are basically fluid-like and can not endure big forces, which restricts their adhesive abilities. Hence, while research study to use it as an adhesive has actually been actively talked about, a naturally degradable product displaying strong adhesion due to its high shear strength has actually not yet been established.