Bioadhesive design of CO2-based polycarbonate materials with thermosensitivity and biodegradability

Addressing the challenges of biotoxicity, poor long-term stability, and inadequate interfacial adhesion that hinder the clinical translation of tissue adhesives, we utilized the biocompatibility and biodegradability of CO₂-derived polycarbonates (PPC) and innovatively incorporated diacetyl-L-tartaric anhydride (DATA) into the copolymerization to develop PPC and DATA alternating/random copolymer (PPCD) bioadhesives. Compared to unmodified PPC, PPCD exhibits significantly enhanced adhesive properties: peel strength increased to 4.7 ± 0.43 N/cm (a 273 % improvement), sealing strength reached 67 ± 2.3 kPa (a 235 % enhancement), and skin adhesion strength rose to 22.1 ± 2.3 kPa (a 203 % increase). In comparative tests, PPCD outperformed commercial Fibrin glue in overall mechanical performance. Furthermore, PPCD demonstrates thermoresponsive viscosity modulation, undergoing debonding at 10°C with a thermal response efficiency exceeding 95 % compared to its viscosity at 37°C. Crucially, PPCD retains the degradability and bioaffinity of the original PPC, as confirmed by cytotoxicity assays showing > 98 % cell viability and histopathological analyses in mice verifying its biosafety. This bioadhesive resolves the long-standing trade-off between mechanical robustness and biocompatibility, while also establishing a new CO₂ valorization strategy for eco-friendly biomedical materials. The functionalization of PPC not only enhances adhesive performance but also pioneers a sustainable pathway for carbon utilization, demonstrating the transformative potential of next-generation tissue repair technologies.