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Pulsed Laser Activation of Carbene Bioadhesive Boosts Bonding Strength
Author(s) -
Shah Ankur H.,
Kartheek Pilla,
Gandhi Prasanna,
Jonnalagadda Krishna,
Steele Terry W. J.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
macromolecular materials and engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.913
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1439-2054
pISSN - 1438-7492
DOI - 10.1002/mame.201900230
Subject(s) - materials science , adhesive , ultraviolet , irradiation , composite material , bioadhesive , curing (chemistry) , fluoropolymer , kinetics , polymer , optoelectronics , physics , layer (electronics) , nuclear physics , quantum mechanics
Abstract Light‐activated tissue adhesives are limited to low light doses (50 J) and intensities (<1 W cm −2 ) due to photo‐to‐thermal heat generation. Low intensities have the disadvantage of limited penetration depths with retarded crosslinking kinetics, which impairs carbene‐based crosslinking strategies that compete with nitrogen evolution and gas nucleation. These limitations are circumvented by a trade‐off between high‐intensity activation while reducing the exposure surface area. Continuous or pulsed activation by line scanning the carbene precursor adhesive allows curing a higher surface area/volume ratio while preventing localized heat generation. By optimizing irradiation with a pulsed laser scan, the adhesion strength is improved by 17‐fold over ultraviolet A (UVA) light emitting diodes (LEDs) and is on par with bioadhesive gold standard of topical cyanoacrylates. Overall, this improved method of photo‐activation applies to other industrial and clinical photocuring adhesives where limits on UVA dose constrain exposure intensities.