Adhesive strength of marine mussel extracts on porcine skin

The adhesive characteristics of marine mussel adhesive extracts were examined. Adhesive protein extracted from mussels (Mytilus edulis) was used to bond porcine skin in an end-to-end joint cured in controlled environments, without the use of chemical cross-linking reagents. The two curing conditions were similar to common surgical environments—“dry” (25°C and 40% relative humidity) and “humid” (37°C and 80% relative humidity). The first condition is similar to that of an external incision while the second is similar to conditions for internal incisions that are not exposed to significant flow of body fluids. Results were compared with performance of the commercial adhesive fibrin. Cyanoacrylate was also examined to validate the testing procedure. The tissue joint strength was 1 MPa for mussel extract joints cured for 24 h under “humid” conditions. Under both conditions, joints bonded with mussel extract showed adhesive strengths similar to those bonded with fibrin, for cure times between 12 and 24 h. For shorter cure times (<12 h) the mussel adhesive bond was weaker than the fibrin bond under both conditions. The presence of moisture seemed to have a significant effect on the performance of both adhesives, especially mussel extracts. These results indicate that tissue joints formed using mussel extract adhesives have comparable strengths to those formed using fibrin (P=0.38), albeit with a slower curing rate. Further investigation of curing agents for the mussel adhesive extract is warranted.