Natural Underwater Bioadhesive Offering Cohesion Modulation via Hydrogen Bond Disruptor: A Highly Injectable and in Vivo Stable Remedy for Gastric Ulcer Resolution

This study presents a novel approach to developing injectable bioadhesives for gastric ulcer management. By incorporating a hydrogen bond disruptor into the silk fibroin-tannic acid adhesive, the bioadhesive achieves controlled cohesion, ensuring both high injectability and in vivo stability. Validated in vitro and in vivo, this strategy offers a biocompatible, long-lasting solution using natural sources for effective minimally invasive application. AbstractInjectable bioadhesives are attractive for managing gastric ulcers through minimally invasive procedures. However, the formidable challenge is to develop bioadhesives that exhibit high injectability, rapidly adhere to lesion tissues with fast gelation, provide reliable protection in the harsh gastric environment, and simultaneously ensure stringent standards of biocompatibility. Here, a natural bioadhesive with tunable cohesion is developed based on the facile and controllable gelation between silk fibroin and tannic acid. By incorporating a hydrogen bond disruptor (urea or guanidine hydrochloride), the inherent network within the bioadhesive is disturbed, inducing a transition to a fluidic state for smooth injection (injection force<5  N). Upon injection, the fluidic bioadhesive thoroughly wets tissues, while the rapid diffusion of the disruptor triggers instantaneous in situ gelation. This orchestrated process fosters the formed bioadhesive with durable wet tissue affinity and mechanical properties that harmonize wit...
Source: Small - Category: Nanotechnology Authors: Tags: Research Article Source Type: research