Soft tissue wounds and incisions are generally closed using sutures and staples, but those leave marks behind and can be very unpleasant for patients. In some cases, such as cosmetic surgery, specialty adhesives are used to fuse tissues together. However, these can be toxic and they tend to solidify into a harder form than native tissue. Researchers from Technion-Israel Institute of Technology have created a soft biocompatible glue, and an accompanying glue gun, that can close wounds and incisions quickly and easily, and which does not cause toxic side effects.

The glue is made of four‐armed N‐hydroxy succinimide‐modified polycaprolactone, a biocompatible material that has a low melting point and that remains soft when in a solid state. Just like with a traditional glue gun, the material is inserted like a stick and pushed forward. The tip of the material is heated and pressure is applied, causing it to melt and seep out of the barrel. This allows the glue to be applied right into the wound using an intuitive technique.

Most interestingly, though, the recipe for the glue itself can be modified during preparation in a variety of ways, causing it to be softer or harder, more or less sticky, or have a different melting point. One can imagine clinics ordering the exact specifications they desire in a given glue batch to match the patient, or perhaps even synthesizing the material in-house.

Though clinical studies of the glue gun and its glue have yet to be performed, in vitro and in vivo experiments have already shown biocompatibility and safety in animals.

Study in journal Advanced Functional Materials: Hot Glue Gun Releasing Biocompatible Tissue Adhesive

Via: Technion