MIT spinout makes surgical stitching more like applying a sticky note.
SanaHeal, a startup spun out of MIT, has developed a hydrogel bioadhesive meant to join tissues during surgery without sutures or staples, and it plans human trials next year.
SanaHeal, a company that grew out of research at MIT, has developed a bioadhesive technology intended to replace some stitching and stapling in surgery. According to MIT News, the material sticks quickly to wet and uneven surfaces and forms air- and fluid-tight seals. Its design was inspired by sticky materials in nature, including barnacles and spider webs.
The technology has already gained regulatory approval to stop trauma bleeding. Next year, the company expects to begin human trials of its use in controlling bleeding during surgeries and in repairing various injured tissues. SanaHeal works with larger companies on clinical trials and commercialization.
Founder and chief technology officer Hyunwoo Yuk earned his master's degree in 2016 and his PhD in 2021 in the lab of MIT mechanical engineering professor Xuanhe Zhao. His early work centered on hydrogels, and he later turned to their biomedical uses. Conversations with Boston-area doctors showed him how often surgeons must seal or attach tissue. Sutures and staples, the article notes, can cause further tissue damage, trigger immune responses, and lead to scar tissue or infection.
The hydrogels are made of polymers and water and are described as biocompatible, meaning they limit immune responses and scar tissue. Early versions worked like double-sided tape, using polyacrylic acid to absorb water from wet tissue and attach within seconds. Yuk said the approach is "more like a Post-it note" than suturing, and that it should be less invasive and easier to use with surgical robots. He also said faster procedures could help lower surgical costs.
SanaHeal was formed in 2021 with early funding from MIT's Deshpande Center. Yuk said potential partners saw the regulatory hurdles as too risky at the early stage, so the founders took on commercialization themselves. The company first aimed at stopping bleeding in wounds, then shifted toward surgery, where there are more applications. Its partners are developing products for open, laparoscopic and endoscopic surgeries, including use alongside existing devices for sutureless hernia and nerve repairs. Yuk said, "We have envisioned ourselves as a platform company from the beginning." He added that commercialization has taken longer than he expected after nearly a decade of work.
At a Glance
- SanaHeal was formally founded in 2021, with early funding from MIT's Deshpande Center.
- The technology already has regulatory approval to stop trauma bleeding.
- Human trials for controlling bleeding during surgery and repairing injured tissue are planned for next year.
- Early versions used polyacrylic acid to absorb water from wet tissue and adhere within seconds.
- Partner companies are developing products for open, laparoscopic and endoscopic surgeries, including hernia and nerve repairs.
Sources
This brief was written by Brightside Report from the reporting linked above. Spot an error? Request a correction.