Abstract
Sandcastle worms are pretty good chemists. Without advanced degrees, they have figured out how to biosynthesize glue components they use to build their underwater tubular shelters. Inspired by the worms, Russell J. Stewart of the University of Utah and coworkers are creating similar adhesives that might be used to make in utero surgery safer or to block blood vessels that feed tumors. “It’s a classic example of borrowing successfully from nature,” comments biomedical sealants specialist Jeffrey M. Karp of Brigham & Women’s Hospital, in Boston. When doctors examine or perform surgery on developing fetuses, the amniotic membranes that protect fetuses in the womb can rupture. The membranes often fail to heal, so the procedures carry a significant risk of preterm delivery. Existing medical adhesives fall short in addressing this surgical problem. Some adhesives swell too much when they cure and may cause further damage. Others “are ineffective in the flexible, ...
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