Lung‐Mimetic Hydrofoam Sealant to Treat Pulmonary Air Leak

Abstract

Pulmonary air leak is the most common complication of lung surgery, contributing to post‐operative morbidity in up to 60% of patients, yet there is no reliable treatment. Available surgical sealants do not match the demanding deformation mechanics of lung tissue and therefore fail to seal air leak. To address this therapeutic gap, we developed and systematically evaluated a sealant with structural and mechanical similarity to subpleural lung. Our “lung‐mimetic” sealant is a hydrofoam material that has alveolar‐like porous ultrastructure, lung‐like viscoelastic properties (adhesive, compressive, tensile), and lung extracellular matrix‐derived signals (matrikines) to support tissue repair. In biocompatibility testing, the lung‐mimetic sealant showed minimal cytotoxicity and immunogenicity in vitro. Human primary monocytes exposed to sealant matrikines in vitro upregulated key genes (MARCO, PDGFB, VEGF) known to correlate with pleural wound healing and tissue repair in vivo. In rat and swine models of pulmonary air leak, our lung‐mimetic sealant rapidly sealed air leak and restored baseline lung mechanics. Altogether, these data indicate that our lung‐mimetic sealant can effectively seal pulmonary air leak and promote a favorable cellular response in vitro.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Advancements in the Management of Postoperative Air Leak following Thoracic Surgery: From Traditional Practices to Innovative Therapies

“…These treatments aim to harness the body's natural healing mechanisms, offering potentially less invasive alternatives to traditional methods. However, the clinical adoption of these innovations requires robust validation through controlled trials to ensure they provide a real benefit in clinical practice [99,101,107,108].…”

“…Advancements in bioengineering have led to the development of novel tissue sealants and adhesives designed to mimic the body's natural healing mechanisms [99]. These products, often based on synthetic or biologically derived materials, aim to provide immediate sealing of air leaks while promoting tissue regeneration [6].…”

“…In animal models, the sealant effectively closes air leaks and returns lung mechanics to normal levels. Their application ranges from minimally invasive procedures to open thoracotomy, offering a versatile tool in the surgeon's arsenal against PAL [99].…”