Fibrin sealant adhesive systems: a review of their chemistry, material properties and clinical applications

Abstract

Fibrin sealants (FS) are the most successful tissue adhesives to date. They have many advantages over adhesive technologies such as cyanoacrylates and marine adhesives in terms of biocompatibility, biodegradation and hemostasis. There are several commercial products in Europe but none in the United States due to the current regulatory stance against pooled plasma blood products. Blood banks and interested investigators have implemented single- and patient autologous-donor production methods with some success. This article will review the history of FS research and development and describe the chemistry of fibrin(ogen) and the production of commercial and research products. Fibrin sealant and purified fibrin characterization is compared and contrasted. The material and adhesive properties are described, and a survey of the clinical applications in which FS has been used is included as well.