Surgical Glue for Beating Hearts
February 11, 2014 | Terry Sharrer

Glue interdigitates with collagen fibers
Slugs have at least one admirable quality—their viscous fluid can form strong bonds under water. In studying those secretions, researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston were able to develop a polymer glue that does the same thing. It infuses itself into collagen fibers and with a five second exposure to UV light becomes a strong but pliable adhesive that can hold up to the blood flow and movement of a beating heart. Thus far, it has only been tested on animals, but it is biodegradable and biocompatible with human tissue and has presented no toxicity. MORE
Image Credit: Brigham and Women’s Hospital and SmartPlanet.com