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. 2023 Feb 2;13(1):1880.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-28113-1.

Carbon black-containing self-healing adhesive hydrogels for endoscopic tattooing

Hyung Jun Kwon #  1 , Hyun Ho Shin #  2 , Da Han Hyun  3 , Ghilsuk Yoon  4 , Jun Seok Park  5 , Ji Hyun Ryu  6   7
Affiliations

Carbon black-containing self-healing adhesive hydrogels for endoscopic tattooing

Hyung Jun Kwon et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

Endoscopic tattooing with India ink is a popular method for identifying colonic lesions during minimally invasive surgery because it is highly challenging to localize lesions during laparoscopy. However, there is a perceived unmet need for the injection of India ink and carbon particle suspension due to various complications and inconstant durability during the perioperative period. In this study, carbon black-containing self-healing adhesive alginate/polyvinyl alcohol composite hydrogels were synthesized as endoscopic tattooing inks. Alginate (Alg) conjugated with phenylboronic acid (PBA) groups in the backbone was crosslinked with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) because of the dynamic bonds between the phenylboronic acid in alginate and the cis-diol groups of PVA. The carbon black-incorporated Alg-PBA/PVA hydrogels exhibited self-healing and re-shapable properties, indicating that improved intraoperative localization could be achieved. In addition, the adhesive tattooing hydrogels were stably immobilized on the target regions in the intraperitoneal spaces. These carbon black-containing self-healing adhesive hydrogels are expected to be useful in various surgical procedures, including endoscopic tattooing.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(a) Synthesis and chemical structures of phenylboronic acid-conjugated alginate (Alg-PBA), (b) 1H NMR spectrum of Alg-PBA. c) UV–Vis spectra of alginate (black), PBA monomer (blue), and Alg-PBA (red).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Preparation and characterizations of carbon black-incorporated alginate-phenylboronic acid/polyvinyl alcohol composite hydrogels (CB/Alg-PBA/PVA hydrogels). (a) Schematic representative (top) and photos (bottom) of preparations of CB/Alg-PBA/PVA hydrogels. (b) Illustration of proposed structures of hydrogels. (c) Photographic images of Alg-PBA, PVA, Alg/PVA, Alg-PBA/PVA hydrogels, and CB/Alg-PBA/PVA hydrogels. (d) Frequency sweep measurements of CB/Alg-PBA/PVA hydrogels. (e) Elastic modulus (G′) changes of samples as a function of frequency. (f) Elastic modulus values of CB/Alg-PBA/PVA hydrogels as a function of CB concentration.
Figure 3
Figure 3
(a–c) Photographic images of CB/Alg-PBA/PVA hydrogels containing 2 mg CB to show (a) self-healing, (b) extensible, and (c) re-shapeable properties. (d) Step-strain measurements of CB/Alg-PBA/PVA hydrogels.
Figure 4
Figure 4
(a) Schematic illustrations of the measurements of tissue adhesive property. (b) Detachment stress of CB, Alg-PBA/PVA, and CB/Alg-PBA/PVA hydrogels.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Relative remaining weight of Alg, PVA, Alg-PBA, Alg-PBA/PVA hydrogels, and CB/Alg-PBA/PVA hydrogels containing 1 or 2 mg CB at a predetermined time interval.
Figure 6
Figure 6
(a) Schematic illustrations of immobilization experiments of tattooing materials on porcine intestine. (b,c) photographic images of indocyanine green, CB, India ink, and CB/Alg-PBA/PVA hydrogels (b) before and (c) after experiments.
Figure 7
Figure 7
In vivo rat experiments for hydrogel implantations. (a) Experimental procedures for hydrogel implantations. (b) Photos of hydrogels on the rat abdominal wall after 3 (left) and 21 days (right). (c,d) Histological analysis of H/E stained rat intestine after 7 (c) and 14 days (d).
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