|Needle And Thread? Mussels Inspire New Type Of Surgical Glue|
|SciMed - Healthcare| |TS-Si News Service| |Sunday, 09 December
2007 19:00| Is it a bio-adhesive of the Future? Although many
adhesives are already used in medicine today, their applications
are limited as they can release toxins (such as formaldehyde).
Mussels have provided a solution. A research team has developed
a new approach based on the mussels' ability to stick on any
surface, be it porous rock or the smooth hull of a ship. Over
the course of evolution, these mollusks have developed a special
glue that not only works under water, but is also a particularly
firm and lasting bonding agent. Moreover, the mussel adhesive is
relatively well tolerated by the human body. It sounds risky at
first: implants such as artificial heart valves and vessels are
to be welded to the body’s own tissue using a special glue, a
synthetic version of a mussel gland's secretion. This will
eliminate the need for bothersome sutures. The bond will rapidly
harden unde