Assessment of the Retinal Toxicity and Sealing Strength of Tissue Adhesives

ABSTRACT

Purpose

The purpose of this in vitro prospective nonrandomized study is to compare the toxicity and strength of cyanoacrylate and hydrogel adhesives on human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells and porcine retina, respectively.

Methods

The toxicity of cyanoacrylate (histoacryl, dermabond, superglue), ReSure PEG, and Tisseel fibrin glue on human RPE cells was determined by growing RPE cells in vitro, applying the different adhesives to the cells, and monitoring for disruption of growth over 3 days. The relative strength of these adhesives was tested by gluing a 3 mm piece of foam to a porcine retina and determining the amount of force needed to break the attachment.

Results

0.085 N of force was required to break the porcine retinal tissue (p = .913). Histoacryl adhesive exhibited high strength (0.247 N) and high RPE toxicity (0.55 mm inhibition zone after 24 hrs). The strength of Tisseel fibrin glue was 0.078 N while that of ReSure was only 0.053 N. Both Tisseel and ReSure were nontoxic to the RPE cells.

Conclusions

Tisseel VH fibrin sealant may provide the best option for sealing retinal breaks because of its high strength and low retinal toxicity.

KEYWORDS:

• Retinal detachment
• adhesive
• toxicity
• strength

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.