Is Hydrogel an Appropriate Bioadhesive Material for Sutureless Oral Wound Closure?

Abstract

Background and aims: An effective surgical adhesive must possess strength, biodegradability, flexibility, non-toxicity, and the ability to accommodate to tissue movement. However, existing adhesives in the market lack some of these crucial properties. Both synthetic cyanoacrylate and natural fibrin glue have been explored for sutureless oral surgery, but they come with specific limitations. This perspective review aims to explore the novel potential of hydrogels as bioadhesives for wound closure in the oral cavity.

Methods: This review thoroughly examines the properties, applications, and limitations of hydrogels as bioadhesive materials for wound closure within the human body.

Results: We first provide a comprehensive description of materials used for sutureless oral surgery. Next, drawing on our expertise in the field of oral surgery, we propose novel potential applications for hydrogels in oral wound closure. We showed that Hydrogels represent promising bioadhesives in medical field and are undergoing continuous enhancement to expand their applications in wound closure.

Conclusion: Although hydrogels have been utilized in various dental conditions, their potential for closing wounds in the oral cavity remains unexplored.

Keywords: bioadhesive; biomimetic; hydrogels; oral wound closure; sutureless oral wound.

Figure 1

Some hydrogel applications in dentistry; Pictures are under free licence and designed by Freepik then combined by power point. Some components drawn by the authors.