Single-component hyaluronic acid hydrogel adhesive based on phenylboronic ester bonds for hemostasis and wound closure

Hydrogel tissue adhesives that currently available are often fabricated by mixing two or more polymeric components. Single-component hydrogels afford injectability, strong and reversible adhesion remain a formidable challenge. This research describes the creation of the first single-component hyaluronic acid hydrogel adhesive-based on phenylboronic acid-diol ester linkages. Phenylboronic acid can not only serve as a cross-linker to form hydrogel, but also act as an adhesion site for glycosyl compounds found in biological cell membranes. The rheological and compressive tests for the hydrogel show that it has excellent self-healing properties, good injectability and strong compressive strength. Adhesion tests demonstrated that the hydrogel has significantly greater adhesion strength than commercial fibrin glue. These findings suggest that the rational design of hydrogel precursors facilitates the formation of single-component networks and multiple functionalities. In vivo studies further proved the hydrogel was an ideal bio-adhesive with biocompatibility, absorbed wound exudate and hemostasis, and accelerated wound closure.