2024.03.20 Repairing patients’ dura more durably

Repairing patients’ dura more durably A tough bioadhesive hydrogel supports sutureless sealing of the dural membrane in porcine and ex vivo human tissue, Science Translational Medicine Dural Tough Adhesive on Brain Tissue – A research collaboration of bioengineers and neurosurgeons has developed a new solution to re-sealing the dura that, using a multi-functional biomaterial, addresses key limitations of current repair methods. Credit: Peter Allen, Ryan Allen, and James C. Weaver. SEAS/MIT/Wyss Dural Tough Adhesive: How it works – The Dural Tough Adhesive (DTA) consists of two intermixed polymer networks: a polyacrylamide network that is permanently crosslinked and provides high elasticity, and an alginate that is reversibly crosslinked and can redistribute the energy produced by mechanical forces in underlying tissues. Adding a highly adhesive layer to this Tough Gel that uses chitosan, a fibrous, sugar-based substance derived from the outer skeletons of shellfish, enables DTA for form multiple chemical interactions with tissues like the dura that create a tight seal. Credit: Wyss Institute at Harvard University Comparison between the Dural Tough Adhesive and a commercial adhesive – This video shows how the Dural Tough Adhesive maintains its toughness when experiencing mechanical forces, while a commercial sealant, due to its relative brittleness, falls apart. Credit: Wyss Institute at Harvard University