Tough PEGDA-Based Bioadhesive Hydrogels for High-Strength In Situ Cartilage Adhesion

Injuries to articular cartilage present considerable difficulty in musculoskeletal medicine owing to the tissue's restricted regenerative capacity. This study sought to formulate and assess adhesive hydrogels to improve both adhesive and cohesive strengths for cartilage injuries. Injectable and in situ double-cross-linkable polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA)-based bioadhesive hydrogels aim to substantially improve the adhesion strength for the repair of cartilage injuries. PEGDA was prepared by adding acrylate groups to polyethylene glycol (PEG), whereas methacrylated alginate (AlgMA) was created by adding methacrylate groups to alginate. The PEG was altered to enhance its mechanical and adhesive characteristics. PEGDA was subsequently combined with AlgMA to enhance its cohesive characteristics. When the amine thiol in the cartilage tissue interacts with the PEGDA/AlgMA framework, it creates amide bonds and thioesters. The bioadhesives were carefully tested for their physical and chemical properties, how much they swell, how they break down over time, and how strong they are, including tests for pressure and how well they close wounds both in vitro and ex vivo. As a result, our improved hydrogel formulas showed ex vivo burst pressure of up to 194.5 ± 8.5 kPa and 335.5 ± 3.5 kPa lap shear, with wound closure strengths of 643.5 ± 46 kPa in vitro and 138 ± 8.5 kPa in tests ex vivonumbers that are much higher than those of clinical fibrin adhesives and other similar materials. These results demonstrate that our composite hydrogel technology is a better bioactive adhesive for cartilage tissue sealing. Our findings will enhance the expanding research on nature-inspired biomaterials and pave the way for the clinical application of next-generation bioadhesives.