Conductive Bioglue Research Points to New Options for Implantable Devices and Tissue Repair
Researchers at POSTECH and Pukyong National University have developed a conductive bioglue designed to adhere in wet internal body environments while also supporting electrical signal transmission.
According to the research team, the material was inspired by mussel adhesion and developed to address challenges involved in attaching medical materials to tissues surrounded by blood and bodily fluids. Conventional adhesives used in these environments can have limited bonding performance and may not support stable electrical communication between tissues and implantable devices.
The researchers reported that the new adhesive is protein-based, water-immiscible, and electrically conductive. They also stated that it can be rapidly converted from liquid to gel through an electrical stimulus, allowing it to be fixed at a target site within seconds.
In laboratory testing, the adhesive was used in tissue-to-tissue interfaces to reconnect electrical signaling between nerves and muscles in severed tissue. According to the study, this supported regeneration and recovery of motor function without requiring sutures.
The research team also tested the material in tissue-to-device applications, where it was used to attach medical devices to organ surfaces. The study reported that the adhesive reduced electrical resistance at the interface, which may support more stable long-term monitoring of biological signals.
For end users in the medical device and healthcare sectors, the technology may offer future potential in applications such as implantable electronics, pacemakers, brain stimulators, and nerve repair systems, according to the researchers. The findings suggest that combining adhesion and conductivity in a single biomaterial could help address performance limitations in wet biological environments.
The study was published in Biomaterials and supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea.
Source: POSTECH / Biomaterials