Scientists develop surgical glue that seals wounds in 60 seconds

Scientists in the US have made a surgical glue that can repair wounds within a minute. The glue is dubbed MeTro.

But don’t go to look for it yet at pharmacies as it’s not yet available.

It is a biocompatible and highly elastic hydrogel sealant made from a human protein that has been modified to react to ultraviolet (UV) light, according to the study published in the medical journal Science Translational Medicine.

Repairing wounds during surgery can be complicated and often involves sutures or staples, but with the development of the surgical “glue,” the job can be done in just 60 seconds.

A good surgical sealant needs to be elastic, adhesive, non-toxic and biocompatible, but most sealants on the markets do not possess all these characteristics, according to Nasim Annabi, lead author of the study and a researcher at Northeastern University.

When researchers apply the glue to a wound and place it under UV light, the wound will be sealed in 60 seconds, said the study.

The glue can seal up wounds without stopping the natural expanding and relaxing of the organ or the skin it’s applied to, the study explained.

The researchers have successfully tested MeTro on animals by sealing surgical incisions in blood vessels of rats and in lungs of pigs without evidence of leakage or rupture.

Northeastern University reported that Annabi and her colleagues plan to test MeTro over a longer period of time before running clinical trials with humans.

Within three to five years, the glue could be available in hospitals, Annabi told the university.

“The potential applications are powerful, from treating serious internal wounds at emergency sites such as following car accidents and in war zones, as well as improving hospital surgeries,” said Anthony Weiss, an author of the study and a researcher at the University of Sydney.