Cyanoacrylate adhesives medical applications

Polymerizable 3-(2-cyano-acryloyloxy)-butyric acid ethyl ester has been prepared in a two-step process using 3-hydroxybutyrate and cyanoacetic acid followed by treatment with formaldehyde. This and related alkyl ester cx-cyanoacrylate monomers are useful as tissue adhesives/sealants in surgical and related medical applications. 

Most commercial glues such as the popular Crazy Glue do not use plasticizers. These glues are based on ethyl and butyl derivatives of cyanoacrylate. A new development involves the use of octyl-2-cyanoacrylate in medical and veterinary applications. These new adhesives usually require plasticizers. 

Jo, S.H., Sohn, J.S., 2014. Biomimetic adhesive materials containing cyanoacryl group for medical application. Molecules 19, 16779—16793. 

Cyanoacrylate is also used as an adhesive, sealant and coating in medical applications. However, its use is insignificant compared with fibrin glue. Cyanoacrylate becomes hard upon polymerization and it is not a gel. 

Henkel-Loctite recently developed an interesting alternative type of system by making cyanoacrylate adhesives that also cure with UV radiation [52]. This type of system combines the ability of cyanoacrylates to cure virtually instantly in small gap situations and also to cure by UV in exposed areas. This system is expected to be used in many applications in rapid product assembly such as in the medical device industry. 

Applications Medical adhesive Fibrin, gelatin, cyanoacrylate, polyurethane... 

Cyanoacrylates are quite widely used for the bonding of medical devices (especially small component parts, see Figure 9.5) as these adhesives show excellent adhesion to many of the plastics used in this industry. In this industry component parts are sterilised and, whilst cyanoacrylates will withstand gamma sterilisation and ethylene oxide (EtO) sterilisation processes, they would not generally be recommended for applications where the component assembly will be steam autoclaved. 

Chapter 10 is entirely new. It focuses on adhesives used in direct physiological contact in dental and medical procedures. Many of these adhesives are based on acrylics chemistry some, such as cyanoacrylates, are used in other applications. Activity in both areas has been quite extensive outside the United States for decades. In contrast, adhesive use in medical devices, patches, and plasters has been ongoing in the United States for a long time. In the case of medical devices, adhesion is concerned with the joining of materials such as plastics, elastomers, textiles, metals, and ceramics. In contrast, the coverage of this chapter is devoted to applications where the adhesives are in direct contact with tissues and other live organs. 

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