Work

Adhesive bioactive materials in ocular applications: Toward smart, regenerative, and minimally invasive therapies

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Ocular adhesive bioactive materials represent a paradigm shift in ophthalmic surgery and tissue repair, offering sutureless solutions with enhanced biocompatibility, reduced complications, and improved clinical outcomes. Designed to function as sealants, defect fillers, and delivery vehicles for drugs or cells, these materials must meet the stringent physiological and optical demands of the ocular environment. They are typically classified by anatomical application (ocular surface vs. fundus) and material origin (natural vs. synthetic), and rely on diverse crosslinking strategies to achieve tailored mechanical and adhesive properties. Current design approaches increasingly embrace biomimetic principles-aiming to replicate the structural and functional characteristics of native ocular tissues-to improve integration and therapeutic effectiveness. Moreover, the combination of adhesive materials with regenerative therapies such as stem cells, and exosomes extends their potential from simple structural support to active tissue regeneration. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of ocular adhesive bioactive materials, outlines major design strategies and applications, and highlights future directions toward personalized and programmable regenerative platforms capable of addressing complex ophthalmic challenges.

Source: Bioactive Materials

DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2025.12.004

Authors: Yifei Niu, Saiqun Li, Fei Yu, Xuan Zhao, Jin Yuan

Institutions: Sun Yat-sen University, State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University

Language: English

Topic: Surgical Sutures and Adhesives

Subfield: Surgery

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,200