Enzymatically cross-linked hydrogels and their adhesive strength to biosurfaces.
OBJECTIVE
To design an in-situ gelling hydrogel capable of solidifying rapidly under physiologic conditions into a hydrogel capable of adhering tissue surfaces together.


METHODS
Multifunctional polymers containing covalently bound peptide substrates of transglutaminase were designed.


METHODS
Enzyme cross-linked hydrogels were compared with commercial fibrin tissue adhesive.


METHODS
The shear strength between tissue surfaces or type 1 collagen membranes bonded with hydrogel was measured.


RESULTS
The shear adhesive strength of transglutaminase cross-linked hydrogels was found to be equal to or better than fibrin sealant for tissue and collagen surfaces, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Transglutaminase cross-linked hydrogels are injectable, in-situ formed, biodegradable, and expected to be useful in a variety of applications including sustained drug delivery, medical and dental adhesives, tissue repair and engineering as polymeric scaffolds, and gene therapy.
Hu
B-H
BH
Biomedical Engineering Department, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA.
Messersmith
P B
PB
D000268:Adhesiveness; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000737:chemistry; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D015195:Drug Design; D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive / Q000737:chemistry; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D012212:Rheology; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D014014:Tissue Adhesives / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D011503:Transglutaminases
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D024042:Collagen Type I; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive; D020100:Hydrogels; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D014014:Tissue Adhesives; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011503:Transglutaminases