Glue Instead of Thread and Needle for Surgeries

Scientists have developed a type of surgical glue that might find application especially in surgeries involving implants. This type of glue will allow for implants to be more easily connected to the living tissue. The glue was developed is currently being tested in a cooperative effort by researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Applied Materials Research IFAM in Bremen, Germany, as well by scientists at the Frankfurt University Hospital in Frankfurt, Germany, the Center of Biotechnical Engineering BitZ at Darmstadt University of Technology in Darmstadt, Germany, the State Materials Testing Institute MPA in Germany, and the German implant manufacturer Straumann in Freiburg, Germany.

Thus far, only skilled work with thread and needle is used for this type of surgery. This makes implant surgery a difficult and sometimes impossible endeavor. With a glue connection, implant surgeries like artificial heart valve and/or vessels replacement would not only be easier and faster, but it could also be imagined that the variety of implants to replace various body parts could be increased.

The scientists turned to nature to find a solution for the problem of reliably connecting implants to living tissue. Mussels can stick tightly to any surface no matter whether it is porous rock or the smooth surface of a boat or ship. The mussels have developed a special kind of 'glue' that allows for the firm and lasting attachment. Furthermore, even under water, the glue does not dissolve. This is an important aspect as the scientists needed to develop a type of surgical glue that would not dissolve inside the moist environment of the human body. The mussels' glue derives its strength from a special protein, whose key elements the chemists at Fraunhofer's IFAM were able to synthetically re-create. It has already found application in an adhesive for repairs in manned space flights, which was done in a joint project with the European Space Agency ESA.

The glue developed for application in human implant surgeries is designed to quickly harden within about thirty seconds by UV light. This would ensure a quick and firm implantation connection to the living tissue of the body. The scientists intend to test the glues suitability and reliability on titanium dental implants. Traditionally, such implants are anchored in the jawbone without any type of adhesive, leaving a gap between the gums and the metal of the implant. In the long run the gap can harbor bacteria, which can lead to infections. With the new surgical glue, the implant would be firmly attached to the gums, leaving no infection prone gap. Conventional adhesive could not be used for this purpose, because they eventually dissolve due to the mouth's moist environment. The new surgical glue containing the synthetically reproduced 'sticky' mussel protein does not dissolve. The scientists also added a via solid-phase peptide synthesis synthetically reproduced growth protein. It stimulates growth of the patient's own body cells around the implant, allowing for a very close bond between the living tissue and the implant. Lastly, the scientists added traditional polymer as a carrier substance.

Practical applications will be investigated and tests will be performed over the next two years. The scientists expect the glue to be ready for use on humans within the next five to ten years.