Photochemical tissue bonding

Abstract

Photochemical tissue bonding methods include the application of a photosensitizer to a tissue and/or tissue graft, followed by irradiation with electromagnetic energy to produce a tissue seal. The methods are useful for tissue adhesion, such as in wound closure, tissue grafting, skin grafting, musculoskeletal tissue repair, ligament or tendon repair and corneal repair.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A method for grafting tissue, comprising:
 contacting a first tissue, a second tissue comprising a tissue graft, and at least one photosensitizer agent to form a tissue-photosensitizer complex; and   applying electromagnetic energy to the tissue-photosensitizer complex in a manner effective to bond the tissue,   wherein the tissue is not contacted with an exogenous protein or peptide which is cross linked by the application of electromagnetic energy, thereby creating a tissue seal between the first and second tissue.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the first tissue is selected from the group consisting of cardiovascular, neurological, gastrointestinal, renal, urological, occular, oral, respiratory, otolaryngological, dermatological, gynecological, genital and connective tissue. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the tissue is skin. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one photosensitizer agent is selected from the group consisting of a xanthene, flavin and pyridine. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the xanthene is Rose Bengal. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the flavin is riboflavin-5-phosphate. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the pyridine is N-hydroxypyridine-2-(1H)-thione 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the contacting steps occurs ex vivo. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the contacting steps occurs in vivo in a subject. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the subject is a human. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the application of electromagnetic energy to the tissue-photosensitizer complex occurs without substantial thermal tissue damage. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the application of electromagnetic energy to the tissue-photosensitizer complex occurs without more than a 15° C. rise in temperature. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the application of electromagnetic energy to the tissue-photosensitizer complex occurs without more than a 10° C. rise in temperature. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the application of electromagnetic energy to the tissue-photosensitizer complex occurs without more than a 3° C. rise in temperature. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the electromagnetic energy applied is less than 2000 J/cm 2 . 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the electromagnetic energy is applied at an irradiance less than 1.5 W/cm 2 . 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the electromagnetic energy is applied at an irradiance of about 0.60 W/cm 2 . 
     
     
         35 - 82 . (canceled)