Biocompatible adhesive materials and methods
Biocompatible adhesive materials, such as for use with biological tissues and/or medical implants, are provided, as well as methods and kits for making and using the biocompatible adhesive materials. The biocompatible adhesive materials include a dendrimer component and a polymer component, and may be tailored for specific tissue types and conditions.
1. A method for treating, adhering, or sealing biological tissue, the method comprising:
providing a first solution comprising a polymer component, wherein the polymer component comprises a polymer having one or more aldehyde groups;
providing a second solution comprising a dendrimer component, wherein the dendrimer component comprises a dendrimer having at least 2 branches with one or more surface groups, wherein less than 75% of the surface groups comprise at least one primary or secondary amine;
combining the first and second solutions together to produce an adhesive formulation and contacting one or more biological tissues with the adhesive formulation; and
allowing the adhesive formulation to cure in contact with the one or more biological tissues.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of adjusting the concentrations of at least one of the first solution and second solution to compensate for the characteristics of a biological tissue.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the adjusting step comprises increasing the concentration of the first solution, and subsequently lowering the concentration until adequate treatment, adhesion, or sealing is achieved.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polymer has a molecular weight from about 1,000 to about 1,000,000 Da.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polymer's degree of functionalization is from about 10% to about 75%.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polymer is a polysaccharide.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the polymer is a dextran.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the dextran has a molecular weight of about 10 kDa.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein about 50% of the dextran's hydroxyl groups are aldehydes.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dendrimer extends through at least 2 generations.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dendrimer has a molecular weight of about 1,000 to about 1,000,000 Da.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dendrimer is a generation 5 poly(amidoamine) derived dendrimer or a dendrimer derived by oxidizing a starting dendrimer comprising surface groups comprising at least one hydroxyl.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dendrimer is a generation 5 dendrimer having primary amines on about 25% of the dendrimer's surface groups.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first solution and second solution are combined on a biological tissue.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second solution is applied to a tissue followed by the first solution.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more biological tissues comprise human tissue.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dendrimer component, polymer component, or both further comprise an additive selected from the group consisting of foaming agents, pH modifiers, thickeners, antimicrobial agents, colorants, surfactants, and radio-opaque agents.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first solution is an aqueous solution.
19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second solution is an aqueous solution.
20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dendrimer component, polymer component, or both components, comprise at least one drug.
21. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dendrimer component, polymer component, or both components, comprise stem cells or other cells.
22. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adhesive formulation reduces inflammation, enhances healing, or both in the biological tissue.
23. The method of claim 20 , further comprising the step of permitting the at least one drug to diffuse from the adhesive formulation into the biological tissue.