Enzymatically cross-linked hydrogels and their adhesive strength to biosurfaces.

OBJECTIVES To design an in-situ gelling hydrogel capable of solidifying rapidly under physiologic conditions into a hydrogel capable of adhering tissue surfaces together. DESIGN Multifunctional polymers containing covalently bound peptide substrates of transglutaminase were designed. EXPERIMENTAL VARIABLE Enzyme cross-linked hydrogels were compared with commercial fibrin tissue adhesive. OUTCOME MEASURE The shear strength between tissue surfaces or type 1 collagen membranes bonded with hydrogel was measured. RESULTS The shear adhesive strength of transglutaminase cross-linked hydrogels was found to be equal to or better than fibrin sealant for tissue and collagen surfaces, respectively. CONCLUSION Transglutaminase cross-linked hydrogels are injectable, in-situ formed, biodegradable, and expected to be useful in a variety of applications including sustained drug delivery, medical and dental adhesives, tissue repair and engineering as polymeric scaffolds, and gene therapy.