Marine materials with potential in medicine

Mussel glue helps heal surgical wounds

The glue that marine mussels use to adhere to rocks can be used to close surgical wounds, potentially allowing for faster recovery and more precise handling than sutures and artificial glues can offer, according to recent research from North Carolina State University and Purdue University (USA) in their "Journal of Biomedical Materials Research B."

Sutures work well, but they require a lot of skill and long recovery times, and they also present some risks such as infection and inflammation, and can cause excessive tension in the tissues.

Synthetic glues, on the other hand, are widely used but have environmental effects. They do not break down in the body because they are not biodegradable and can cause inflammation and damage tissues.

Now, this group of researchers has found a solution to close wounds that improves the results of the two current techniques: the secret lies in mussels.

Thanks to the adhesive proteins present in its natural glue, shorter recovery times and reduced scarring are achieved. They are also biodegradable and non-toxic.

Speaking to Efe, Narayan explained that although the substance is on the market, its use has not yet reached clinical trials.

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