Strong Dual-Components Bioadhesive Based on Solventless Thiol-Isocyanate Click Chemistry

Abstract

Isocyanate is an efficient tissue anchor for engineering of strong bioadhesive. However, isocyanate containing adhesives are seldom manufactured, due to their requirement of water-free administration and time-consuming moisture-induced solidification. To address this issue, herein, a solventless dual-component bioadhesive based on thiol-isocyanate crosslinking chemistry is reported. This dual-component bioadhesive consists of a hyperbranched polymer with thiol groups (HBPTE) and an isocyanate modified polyethylene glycol (PEGNCO). HBPTE and PEGNCO are low-viscosity fluids at room temperature and hence could be used directly as adhesive components, in absence of catalyst and solvent. The thiol-isocyanate click chemistry of components provide HBPTE-PEGNCO mixture with a gelation time of 1.5~3 minutes, which makes it acceptable for practical applications. The abundance of isocyanate groups in the adhesive molecule provides strong bonding strength through formation of chemical linkages with reactive groups on the tissue. Moreover, in vitro and in vivo evaluations in mice showed excellent biocompatibility of HBPTE-PEGNCO adhesive. This dual-component bioadhesive based on solventless thiol-isocyanate click chemistry displayed a fast gelation time and excellent bonding performance, providing a pioneering ideal for engineering isocyanate containing bioadhesive.