New radiopaque adhesive developed for medical and surgical use

Researchers have created a new type of surgical glue with a potentially wide range of potential applications.

Developed by the South Korean Institute for Basic Science in collaboration with medical doctors in Seoul National University Hospital, the nanoparticle-based radiopaque adhesive is designed to be both adherent and visible in the most common imaging techniques – fluoroscopy, ultrasound and computed tomography.

Nanoparticles were developed with a shell made of silica and a core of radiopaque tantalum oxide, with the silica holding the tissue together and the tantalum oxide providing contrast enhancement.

The adhesive, referred to as TSN glue, was shown to be highly adhesive and to be more biocompatible than the current cyanoacrylate-lipiodol combination routinely used in clinical practice.

This means it causes fewer side effects and reduced toxicity, as well as offering accurate target localisation during movement. These benefits have been confirmed during animal tests.

Hyeon Taeghwan, director of the Institute for Basic Science Centre for Nanoparticle Research, said: "TSNs are well fixed to tissues so that nanoparticles and tissues move in unison. This is important, because they could help surgeons to recognise a moving surgical target and perform a safe and accurate operation."

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