Histotoxicity of Cyanoacrylate Tissue Adhesive in the Rat

Abstract

Higher molecular weight aliphatic esters of 2-cyanoacrylic acid were synthesized in an effort to modify the tissue response obtained with methyl-2-cyanacrylate tissue adhesive. The histotoxic properties of methyl-, hexyl- and decyl-2-cyanoacrylate polymers were compared at sutcutaneous, hepatic and marrow cavity implant sites in the rat. Methyl-2-cyano-acrylate was intensely necrotizing and pyogenic, whereas the 2 higher molecular weight homologues produced a foreign-body granuloma response preceded by transient inflammation. All of these compounds were demonstrated to be effective tissue adhesives. These studies suggest that the marked histotoxicity of methyl-2-cyanoacrylate was related to its continuing interaction with surrounding tissues, including its resorption. The bland response which attended the higher molecular weight homologues demonstrates that the histotoxicity of methyl-2-cyanoacrylate can be reduced significantly by simple changes in the molecule which do not impair the unique tissue adhesive properties of the cyanoacrylates.