1 research outputs found
Gold Nanorod-Collagen Nanocomposites as Photothermal Nanosolders for Laser Welding of Ruptured Porcine Intestines
Surgical
site infection and postoperative leakage are complications
that may develop following colorectal surgery and result in fatal
consequences. Rapid, fluid-tight wound closure through laser tissue
welding (LTW) can reduce postoperative leakage and thus decrease infection.
Laser tissue welding involves generation of localized heat by exposing
an exogenous chromophore to near-infrared (NIR) irradiation in order
to seal wounds. In this study, we generated gold nanorod (GNR)-collagen
nanocomposites (NCs) for laser-facilitated welding of ruptured intestinal
tissue. The fluid content, stiffness, elasticity, and laser-induced
temperature response of these nanocomposites were modulated to optimize
laser-induced tissue fusion and minimize tissue damage. In addition,
the effect of laser operating parameters including power density,
femtosecond pulsed wave (PW) or continuous wave (CW) laser, and exposure
duration were all studied. Laser power density and treatment duration
significantly affected the temperatures reached during welding, as
well as tissue weld strength and burst pressure. CW laser was found
to induce significantly higher temperatures of the nanocomposites
during treatment than PW laser, but the differences in weld strength
and burst pressure for the two laser types were insignificant. This
suggests that PW lasers can result in robust welds while minimizing
potential thermal damage compared to CW lasers. The ultimate tensile
strength of welded ruptured tissue was returned to as high as 68%
of the native tissue strength through laser treatment, and laser treatment
with these nanocomposites restored up to 64% of native tissue leak
pressure and 42% of burst pressure. To the best of our knowledge,
the laser power densities used (≤2.50 W/cm<sup>2</sup>) are
among the lowest reported for laser tissue welding, and the laser
configuration and use require very little surgical skill. Our results
indicate that GNR-collagen nanocomposites are promising photothermal
biomaterials in laser tissue welding applications