SanaHeal, a company spun out of research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), is developing a surgical adhesive that works like tape or a sticky note: it bonds wet tissue within seconds as an alternative to stitches and staples.
The material is a hydrogel made of polymers and water, inspired by natural adhesives such as those of barnacles and spider webs. It absorbs water from the tissue surface so it can stick.
Stitches and staples can damage tissue, cause scarring or infection and leave little margin for error, MIT explains. The company says its adhesive is less invasive and easier to use with surgical robots.
The technology is already approved for stopping trauma bleeding, and human trials for controlling bleeding during surgery and repairing tissue are scheduled for next year. Founder Hyunwoo Yuk has worked on the technology for nearly a decade.
