Bioadhesive Materials for Biomedical Applications

Bioadhesive materials have emerged as a transformative class of biomedical polymers capable of bonding to tissues under diverse physiological conditions. They harness mechanisms including covalent crosslinking, hydrogen bonding and physical interpenetration to achieve robust adhesion. Natural polymers such as fibrin, chitosan and alginate, and synthetic systems including dendrimeric networks, catechol-modified polymers and polyester blends, offer tailored degradation rates, mechanical properties and biocompatibility. On-demand activation strategies such as photocuring, electrocuring and pH-triggered crosslinking enable controlled adhesion in minimally invasive procedures. Applications range from wound closure and surgical sealants to implant fixation and targeted drug delivery. Ongoing research focuses on enhancing haemocompatibility, reducing cytotoxicity and integrating bioactive functionalities. Advances in material design are driving global adoption of bioadhesives across first-aid, surgical and implantable platforms, offering alternatives to sutures and staples while improving patient outcomes.

Research from Nature Portfolio

A pioneering approach employs electrocuring bioadhesives based on carbene-grafted polyamidoamine dendrimers. These materials form viscous aqueous gels that undergo rapid, voltage-initiated crosslinking at low potentials, permitting precise tuning of adhesive strength and gelation kinetics. Voltage application triggers carbene insertion and network formation on both electrode and tissue interfaces, while deactivation instantly halts polymerisation. This platform offers unprecedented control for implantable adhesives, enabling minimally invasive procedures and on-demand bonding with potential applications in cardiovascular and neural devices.

Research from all publishers

Recent developments include polymer-based sprays formulated from hydroxypropyl cellulose, polyvinyl pyrrolidone and methylcellulose with polyethylene glycol, generating films that convert to hydrogels upon exudate absorption to protect wounds and facilitate clotting without traumatic removal. Voltage-activated metal lipoate adhesives derived from lipoic acid salts demonstrate on-demand gelation and enhanced storage modulus, providing adhesion strengths on wet tissues comparable to fibrin sealants and supporting laparoscopic applications. Photocurable blends of lactic acid and polycaprolactone oligomers functionalised with acrylate groups yield UV-crosslinked films with tunable mechanical resilience, degradation profiles and antibacterial activity, suitable for surgical sealants with favourable cytotoxicity profiles.

Bioadhesive Materials for Biomedical Applications publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in bioadhesive materials for biomedical applications across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Bioadhesion: The capability of a material to bond to biological tissues through chemical or physical interactions.

Carbene: A highly reactive neutral carbon species used to form covalent crosslinks in adhesive networks.

Electrocuring: Polymerisation triggered by the application of an electric potential to initiate adhesive curing.

Lap-shear strength: A measure of adhesive bond strength assessed by applying shear force parallel to the bonded surfaces.

Photocuring: Light-initiated crosslinking of polymers, typically using ultraviolet radiation to solidify adhesives.

References

1. Adhesive curing through low-voltage activation. Nature Communications (2015).
2. Photocurable Polymeric Blends for Surgical Application. Materials (2020).
3. Synthesis and Evaluation of Metal Lipoate Adhesives. Polymers (2023).
4. Preparation of Gel Forming Polymer-Based Sprays for First Aid Care of Skin Injuries. Gels (2024).