title: Coalescence of extracellular matrix (ECM) from porcine urinary bladder (UBM) with a laser-activated chitosan-based surgical adhesive.
abstract: Urinary bladder matrix (UBM) has been extensively investigated as a naturally occurring biomaterial in therapeutic applications for tissue repair or regeneration, while other strategies involve biopolymers such as chitosan for tissue reconstruction. The coalescence of UBM with chitosan has considerable potential in enhancing tissue reconstruction. Characterisation of a novel, laser-activated, chitosan-based, thin-film surgical adhesive with UBM in various morphologies showed that the films had increased surface rugosities and crystallinities (Ra approx. 0.83 um, approx. 12% crystallinity) when compared to the chitosan adhesive alone (R a = 0.74 um, 7% crystallinity). Tensile strength of the films was significantly increased by the addition of UBM in particulate form (12.1-32.4 MPa). Furthermore, tissue adhesion strengths using these hybrid biomaterials were maintained at approx. 15 kPa compared to 3 kPa for fibrin glue. Histological analysis demonstrated that laser irradiation of the UBM-chitosan adhesive biomaterial caused no thermal damage to tissue. Examination of the cellular response at the material interface showed that 3T3 fibroblasts maintained their regular morphology with enhanced growth compared to films of both chitosan and its adhesive form. These results suggest that coalescence of UBM with a chitosan-based adhesive supports the development of biomaterial devices for sutureless wound closure that could enhance tissue repair and reconstruction.
authors.affiliation: a Bio/Polymer Research Group, Centre for Advanced Macromolecular Design, School of Biotechnology & Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales , Sydney , NSW , 2052 , Australia.
authors.forename: Tania
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Helder
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Marçal
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Bryan N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: L John R
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Foster
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000737:chemistry*; D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive / Q000737:chemistry; D007834:Lasers; D008422:Materials Testing; D051379:Mice; D013499:Surface Properties; D013552:Swine; D013696:Temperature; D013718:Tensile Strength; D014014:Tissue Adhesives / Q000737:chemistry*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive; D014014:Tissue Adhesives; D048271:Chitosan