Glue that can Seal Wounds

A highly elastic and adhesive surgical glue wounds in 60 seconds, could revolutionize how surgeries are performed.

Clinicians and biomedical engineers from the University of Sydney and Harvard University collaborated on the development of the potentially life-saving surgical glue, called MeTro, which was recently awarded a patent and with commercial availability a possibility within a few years.

Above, MeTro surgical glue applied directly to the wound.  Credit University of Sydney

The surgical glue quickly seals wounds without the need for staples or stitches, could transform how surgeries are performed.

MeTro’s high elasticity makes it ideal for sealing wounds in body tissues that continually expand and relax – such as lungs, hearts and arteries – that are otherwise at risk of re-opening.

MeTro Glue that can Seal Wounds

MeTro gel efficiently seals punctures in the animal’s lungs. In this staining the hydrogel is in the top and lung tissue in the bottom section.  Image credit Wyss Institute at Harvard University

The material also works on internal wounds that are often in hard-to-reach areas and have typically required staples or sutures due to surrounding body fluid hampering the effectiveness of other sealants.

MeTro sets in just 60 seconds once treated with UV light.

source eurekalert