FURI | Summer 2021

Light-Activated Sealants for Internal Organ Repair and Healing

Current techniques for internal organ sealing and repair can cause additional trauma, may lack adhesive properties, or cause an inflammatory response. The focus of this study is to develop a film that, when activated by light, will adhere to the target tissue while keeping the edges of the wound approximated, providing an alternative to sutures, staples, or glues. The polysaccharide chitosan has been developed into a viable sealant film with glutaraldehyde added to prevent swelling and the dye indocyanine green added to absorb light and produce heat for bonding with the tissue. Future testing will involve in vivo studies on rodent intestinal tract.