Degradable Hydrogel Adhesives with Enhanced Tissue Adhesion, Superior Self‐Healing, Cytocompatibility, and Antibacterial Property

Abstract

Degradable hydrogel adhesives with multifunctional advantages are promising to be candidates as hemostatic agents, surgical sutures, and wound dressings. In this study, hydrogel adhesives are constructed by catechol-conjugated gelatin from natural resource, iron ions (Fe 3+ ), and a synthetic polymer. Specifically, the latter is prepared by the radical ring-opening copolymerization of a cyclic ketene acetal monomer 5,6-benzo-2-methylene-1,3-dioxepane and N-(2-ethyl p-toluenesulfonate) maleimide. By the incorporation of ester bonds in the backbone and the combination with quaternary ammonium salt pendants in the polymer, it exhibits excellent degradability and antibacterial property. Remarkably, doping the synthetic polymer into the 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid-modified gelatin network forms a semi-interpenetrating polymer network which can effectively improve the rigidity, tissue adhesion, and antibacterial property of fabricated hydrogel adhesives. Moreover, non-covalent bonds from coordination interaction between catechol and Fe 3+ contribute to the fast self-healing of the developed hydrogel adhesives. These hydrogel adhesives with the multiple merits including the degradability, enhanced tissue adhesion, superior self-healing, good cytocompatibility, and antibacterial property show the great potential to be used as tissue adhesives in biomedical fields.

Ultra-strong adhesive, self-healing and electroactive bio-based hydrogels for the on-demand fabrication of sandwich-inspired smart electronic sensing floors

“…Here, Fe 3+ also acts as an ionic crosslinking agent to bring about complexation with Gel, connecting Gel with the CS molecular chain, forming a more solid and dense three-dimensional network structure, thus improving the cohesion of CAM-Gels and further enhancing the adhesion strength. 25…”

A physicochemical double-cross-linked gelatin hydrogel with enhanced antibacterial and anti-inflammatory capabilities for improving wound healing

“…Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922) and S. aureus (ATCC 25923) were used to test the surface antimicrobial effect of the Tsg-THA&Fe hydrogel [ 44 ]. Bacterial solutions, such as E. coli and S. aureus in PBS (pH 7.4), were diluted.…”

Progress in Gelatin as Biomaterial for Tissue Engineering

“…Much consideration has also been directed towards the development of hydrogels that can adhere to damaged tissues and/or have conductive properties. Since gelatin has the ability to enhance cell adhesion, it may serve as a platform to integrate adhesive hydrogels into the tissue [74]. Similarly, gelatin's tertiary structure enhances the mechanical properties in adhesive hydrogels [75,76].…”