Tissue Engineering: A glue for biomaterials

A new concept based on a glue has proved to be capable of binding the proteins present in the cartilage to the materials used for tissue reconstruction or regeneration. Cartilage serves to support mechanical loads and facilitate movements in moveable joints. A new approach to cartilage regeneration depends on an adhesive agent as an intermediary that can chemically bind both the native tissue and the material used to fill the defect. Functionalized chondroitin sulphate is one of the components of native cartilage, with two distinct organic moieties, and these aldehydes form a covalent bond with the native cartilage tissue to bind with the biomaterials. The tissue primer provides a strong mechanical bond to the native cartilage, and dose not damage the cells delivered through the biomaterial or the native cartilage. The new concept is expected to be applicable to orthopaedic tissue repair and in some cases in which separate tissues are required to be adhered.