A collaborative team of bioengineers and neurosurgeons has introduced a revolutionary solution for repairing the dura, the outer membrane protecting the brain and spinal cord.
Drawing inspiration from nature, the research team mimicked the properties of the Dusky Arion slug’s mucus, which allows the creature to adhere firmly to various surfaces.
The resulting innovative adhesive could transform neurosurgical procedures by offering a more efficient and durable method for sealing the dura after surgery.
The research was published in Science Translational Medicine and details the development of a hydrogel called Dural Tough Adhesive (DTA).
This slug-inspired gel combines two polymer networks with an adhesive layer of chitosan, a sugar derived from shellfish.
The resulting so-called Tough Adhesive offers a robust solution to neurosurgeons’ challenges in achieving a watertight seal of the dura, especially in complex surgical scenarios.
Dr Kyle Wu, a neurosurgeon from Ohio State University and co-first and co-corresponding author of the study, explained: ‘As neurosurgeons, we routinely open the dura to access the brain or spinal cord, but achieving a watertight seal at the conclusion of these procedures can be challenging. Our current options, like suturing or grafting, have limitations, particularly in maintaining a secure seal on wet tissue.’
The unique properties of DTA address these limitations, demonstrating superior performance compared to existing surgical sealants in tests conducted on rats’ brains, pigs’ spinal cords, and human cadaveric tissue. The adhesive’s mechanical strength and biocompatibility make it an ideal solution for sealing dural membranes, even under conditions of elevated intracranial pressure.
Dr WU said: ‘In light of the persistent trend toward minimally invasive neurosurgeries for patients’ benefit, an ideal dural sealant must not only be a better alternative to suture repair but also be easier to handle and deploy in tight spaces – current repair methods are not good at both. In fact, we were able to introduce DTA through the nasal cavity of a human cadaveric cephalus and place it accurately onto a leaking area of the skull base where it withstood artificially generated intracranial pressures that were well beyond the range of even pathological pressures.’
Dr David Mooney, a bioengineer involved in the creation of DTA, expressed his excitement about the potential impact of this research. ‘We are excited to have opened a new perspective for neurosurgeons with this study, which could facilitate a variety of surgical interventions and lower the risk for patients. This study underscores how advances in biomaterial design have the potential to revolutionise regenerative medicine.’
The study’s findings highlight the significant advancements made in the field of bio-inspired engineering.
The innovative approach led to the development of DTA, a highly adhesive and mechanically strong solution for repairing the dura.
With the successful development and testing of DTA, the future of neurosurgery appears brighter. It promises safer and more effective procedures for patients requiring surgical interventions involving the brain and spinal cord.
Photo caption - A research collaboration of bioengineers and neurosurgeons has developed a new solution to re-sealing the dura that, using a multi-functional biomaterial, addresses key limitations of current repair methods. Credit: Peter Allen, Ryan Allen, and James C. Weaver. SEAS/MIT/Wyss
