Nanoparticle solutions as adhesives for gels and biological tissues

Abstract

Adhesives are made of polymers because, unlike other materials, polymers ensure good contact between surfaces by covering asperities, and retard the fracture of adhesive joints by dissipating energy under stress. But using polymers to 'glue' together polymer gels is difficult, requiring chemical reactions, heating, pH changes, ultraviolet irradiation or an electric field. Here we show that strong, rapid adhesion between two hydrogels can be achieved at room temperature by spreading a droplet of a nanoparticle solution on one gel's surface and then bringing the other gel into contact with it. The method relies on the nanoparticles' ability to adsorb onto polymer gels and to act as connectors between polymer chains, and on the ability of polymer chains to reorganize and dissipate energy under stress when adsorbed onto nanoparticles. We demonstrate this approach by pressing together pieces of hydrogels, for approximately 30 seconds, that have the same or different chemical properties or rigidities, using various solutions of silica nanoparticles, to achieve a strong bond. Furthermore, we show that carbon nanotubes and cellulose nanocrystals that do not bond hydrogels together become adhesive when their surface chemistry is modified. To illustrate the promise of the method for biological tissues, we also glued together two cut pieces of calf's liver using a solution of silica nanoparticles. As a rapid, simple and efficient way to assemble gels or tissues, this method is desirable for many emerging technological and medical applications such as microfluidics, actuation, tissue engineering and surgery.

Decellularized Bovine Articular Cartilage Matrix Reinforced by Carboxylated-SWCNT for Tissue Engineering Application

“…However, attachment of the carbon nanotubes to the surface could provide bio-nanocomposite scaffold that can be used in vitro studies on adhesion and cellular performance. According to other research Carbon nanotubes can become adhesive when their surface chemistry is modified (Rose et al 2013). The nanotubes Can affect the cells and the cell morphology alter through the nanostructured surface.…”

Guidable Thermophoretic Janus Micromotors Containing Gold Nanocolorifiers for Infrared Laser Assisted Tissue Welding

“…The pig skin and the beef liver sample have no existing fibrous pre alignments. The fact that liver's mechanical properties can be restored with laser tissue welding offers the chance to utilize this kind of micromotor in the future for internal haemostatic treatments since livers as well as lung tissues can until now not be sutured 4, 5. The existing alternatives are blood coagulation factors, supporting thrombosis as well as nanoparticle gluing attempts for which one has to cut the patients open 4, 5…”

“…We compared laser based sealing properties also with the nanoparticle tissue gluing method of Leibler and co‐workers4, 5 to evaluate the healing properties. The used particles for nanoparticle gluing experiments were superparamagnetic magnetide nanoparticles, also used for steering our capsules and particles.…”

“…The stitching approach has severe drawbacks since it mechanically forces the tissue together causing kinks in the healed tissues, and in addition it creates new wounds and trauma 4. Novel approaches such as nanoparticle‐based wound sealing are promising, but since the gluing happens immediately, no further correction is possible when the wound is closed by mechanical pressure at the first time 4, 5…”

Self‐Adjustable Adhesion of Polyampholyte Hydrogels

“…Several research groups have tried to develop different adhesive hydrogels based on surface modification, [6] mechanical interlocking, [7] making composites, [8] supramolecular recognition, [9] and nano-particles. [10,11] But these approaches have limitations in practical applications, such as lengthy and complicated way of processing, lack of water resistivity and universality, inability in non-residual removal, etc. [12] The clue to develop adhesives working for hydrogels and biological tissues hides in nature.…”