The Applications and Research Progress of Polymeric Medical Tissue Adhesives

The polymer medical tissue adhesive has received extensive attention in the medical field due to its excellent performance, and are widely used in a variety of medical settings ranging from minor to life-threatening tissue injuries. Compared to the traditional methods of wound closure (i.e., suturing and stapling), they are relatively easy to use, enable rapid application, and introduce minimal tissue damage. Polymeric tissue adhesives can provide versatile materials for wound management, and can be used as hemostatic agents, adhesives and sealants. Despite their numerous current applications, tissue adhesives still face several limitations and unresolved challenges (e.g., weak wet adhesion strength and poor biological function). Successful development of next-generation adhesives will likely require a holistic understanding of the chemical and physical properties of the tissue-adhesive interface, fundamental mechanisms of tissue adhesion, and requirements for specific clinical applications. In this review, we discussed the basic design principles and wet adhesion mechanism of tissue adhesives. Based on the consideration of tissue specificity, we introduced the latest research progress in this field and looked forward to the potential functions and clinical needs of tissue adhesives in the future, hoping to provide a valuable reference for the progress in the field of tissue adhesive. © 2022, Materials Review Magazine. All right reserved.