Device spraying hydrogel on the heart (illustration) (IMAGE)

University of California - San Diego

Device spraying hydrogel on the heart (illustration)

Caption

Researchers designed a device to safely and accurately spray the hydrogel inside the area where open heart surgery is being performed. The device houses the hydrogel's two main components in two different chambers. Each component is made of PEG with different reactive groups that crosslink together to form the hydrogel. One of the solutions also includes the catechol-modified PEG to ensure it stays on the heart. The two mix as they exit the device, forming a gel. The process is akin to using two cans of spray paint, for example blue and yellow, to create a third color, green.

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University of California San Diego

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