UV-crosslinked biomaterials: Functionalized polyethylene glycol for tissue adhesive applications

Surgeons around the world face the challenge of effectively and securely treat acute wounds. The most used techniques used to reestablish proper tissue continuity and promote healing comprise surgical tape strips and wound suturing or stapling. However, these have different limitations associated, like additional tissue trauma and patient discomfort. Tissue adhesives have emerged as a promising alternative to traditional wound dressings and have been widely explored for their potential to minimize these drawbacks while improving overall outcomes. This study focused on the preparation of photocrosslinkable biomaterials, synthesized from polyethylene glycol (PEG) functionalized with 2-isocyanatoethyl acrylate (AOI), for potential use as tissue adhesives. The synthesized polymers were then crosslinked using two different UV irradiation times (30 and 120 s) to assess how the crosslinking period impacts the final properties of the films. The materials’ chemical composition and thermal and mechanical behavior were further characterized. Rheologic profile, gel content, hydrolytic degradation, and contact angles were assessed. In addition, cytocompatibility evaluation was also conducted. Overall, the obtained data suggest that the newly synthesized tissue adhesives form flexible, homogeneous, and transparent matrices, exhibiting promising properties for potential tissue adhesive applications. • PEG was functionalized with AOI to create UV-crosslinkable tissue adhesive materials. • Crosslinking efficiency and film properties were tuned using UV exposure time. • Surface energy and water uptake support use in moist, bleeding wound environments. • Rapid photocuring (30s) yields biodegradable films suitable for surgical applications. • PA30 films exhibited excellent biocompatibility with human dermal fibroblasts.