Laser Welding of Ruptured Intestinal Tissue Using Plasmonic Polypeptide Nanocomposite Solders

Abstract

Approximately 1.5 million people suffer from colorectal cancer and inflammatory bowel disease in the United States. Occurrence of leakage following standard surgical anastomosis in intestinal and colorectal surgery is common and can cause infection leading to life-threatening consequences. In this report, we demonstrate that plasmonic nanocomposites, generated from elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) cross-linked with gold nanorods, can be used to weld ruptured intestinal tissue upon exposure to near-infrared (NIR) laser irradiation. Mechanical properties of these nanocomposites can be modulated based on the concentration of gold nanorods embedded within the ELP matrix. We employed photostable, NIR-absorbing cellularized and noncellularized GNR-ELP nanocomposites for ex vivo laser welding of ruptured porcine small intestines. Laser welding using the nanocomposites significantly enhanced the tensile strength, leakage pressure, and bursting pressure of ruptured intestinal tissue. This, in turn, provided a liquid-tight seal against leakage of luminal liquid from the intestine and resulting bacterial infection. This study demonstrates the utility of laser tissue welding using plasmonic polypeptide nanocomposites and indicates the translational potential of these materials in intestinal and colorectal repair.

Gold Nanorod-Collagen Nanocomposites as Photothermal Nanosolders for Laser Welding of Ruptured Porcine Intestines

“…In fact, 2.50 W/cm 2 is an 8-fold decrease in laser power density from our previous work using elastin-like polypeptide (ELP)-based NCs for laser tissue welding. 19 In addition, treatment durations of 6 or 10 min are comparable to those found in the literature. The type of laser employed, pulsed or continuous wavelength, did not significantly alter the burst pressures, which differed from observations with the photothermal response of the NCs and ultimate tensile strength measurements of the welded tissue.…”

Near‐Infrared Croconaine Rotaxanes and Doped Nanoparticles for Enhanced Aqueous Photothermal Heating

“…The most common approach uses the photothermal effect, namely the absorption of laser light by molecules or particles that convert this energy into heat. Applications of nanoscale heat generation include photothermal cancer therapy,1 photoacoustic imaging,2 drug delivery,3 tissue repair,4 photothermal reactions,5 and polymer welding 6…”

3D Printing: Printed Electronics

“…In some cases, the gold surface must be functionalized as indicated previously for other nanoparticle functionalization. Huang et al (2013) have also described an artificial protein composite containing Au nanorods ($15 nm diameter and 50 nm in length) which is used as a novel glue to help "weld" tissue ruptures by absorbing near-IR laser light which passes harmlessly through human tissue, but causing the Au nanorods to heat up as a consequence of the absorbed energy, coagulating the protein matrix. Such laser applications are used in tissue repair in cartilage blood vessels, urinary tracts, and tissue repair in inflammatory bowel disease, which afflicts $1.5 million people annually in the USA.…”