Comparative study of the mechanical behaviour of a cyanoacrylate and a bioadhesive

We compared the mechanical resistance of 18 samples of calf pericardium bonded with a 100 mm(2) overlap, by two types of glues: a cyanoacrylate (Loctite 4011) and a bioadhesive (BioGlue). Comparative tensile testing was also carried out in 40 paired samples, 20 bonded with the cyanoacrylate and 20 unbonded controls. The findings at rupture showed a greater resistance of the calf pericardium glued with cyanoacrylate, with a mean tensile strength of 0.15 MPa vs. 0.04 MPa for the biological glue (p=0.000). They also demonstrated a loss of resistance of the samples bonded with cyanoacrylate when compared with that of the unbonded other halves of the pairs: 0.20 MPa and 0.27 MPa vs. 19.47 MPa and 24.44 MPa (p<0.001). The method of selection by means of paired samples made it possible to establish the equations that relate the stress and strain, or deformation, with excellent coefficients of determination (R-2). These equations demonstrate the marked elastic behaviour of the bonded samples. Moreover, these findings show the cyanoacrylate to be superior to the biological glue, leading to the examination of the compatibility, inalterability over time and mechanical behaviour of the cyanoacrylate in sutured samples, as well as the study of the anisotropy of the biomaterial when bonded with a bioadhesive. (C) 2004 Kluwer Academic Publishers.