New synthetic surgical sealant reduces the risk of infection

Surgical sealants are wax or gel-like substances used with sutures to completely seal internal and external incisions after surgery. Existing sealants are commonly composed of natural materials extracted from human blood, such as fibrin.

‘The major advantage of our sealant is that there’s no risk of infection, because it’s synthetic,’ said Dr Qizhi Chen, from Monash University in Melbourne. ‘It’s not developed from human blood extract, like the current sealants on the market,’

To be effective, a sealant must be sticky enough to allow the suture line to heal underneath; flexible, to allow for the body’s movement; and able to be absorbed by the body.

Although the natural sealants promote wound healing, their use involves a serious risk of blood-borne disease contamination, such as HIV/AIDS or Hepatitis B.

The other major advantage of Dr Chen’s synthetic formula is that it is easy to apply. ‘It can be pasted on as a liquid at 45°C,’ she said. ‘This hardens into a flexible wax-like substance at body temperature.

‘The surgeon has plenty of time to make sure the sealant is properly applied. Sealants currently in use can harden too quickly, meaning they’re not always applied as effectively as they could be. Our formula resolves this issue.’