Gelatin hydrogels show promise for open wound care

Sutures and staples are common wound closure methods, but they can cause secondary tissue injuries. Tissue adhesive glues are a more attractive solution but can suffer from toxicity and weak adhesion.

Another form of treatment in the form of tissue adhesive patches allow precise control of adhesion and mechanical properties through adjustable polymeric compositions. These patches can also deliver drugs directly to wounds, enhancing recovery. While existing adhesive patches containing catecholamines such as dopamine (DA) have shown promise, they face challenges due to slow oxidation and weak bonding with the polymer backbone.

Now, researchers led by Associate Professor Kyung Min Park at Incheon National University believe they have found an effective solution to these limitations. Their findings are detailed in Composites Part B: Engineering.

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Their approach is centred around the addition of calcium peroxide (CaO2) as an ingredient when preparing the hydrogel solution, giving rise to gelatin-based oxygen-generating tissue adhesives (GOTs).