Chitosan methacrylate-based bioadhesive: towards a photoresponsive and extrudable material for bone fracture repair

The development of biocompatible and easy to apply bone adhesives with significant adhesion performance under typical physiological conditions is currently considered one of the main challenges in bone tissue repair. Currently, commercially available materials, such as polymethylmethacrylate, fail to provide sufficient biocompatibility on the surroundings of the fracture, which in turn largely limits tissue repair. Chitosan, a widely studied natural polysaccharide, not only presents desirable biocompatibility, but also promising adhesive properties. Consequently, here we aimed to develop a chitosan-based bioadhesive with superior adhesiveness and enhanced biocompatibility. This was achieved by the chemical modification of chitosan’s main backbone with methacryloyl groups that provide photoresponsiveness to tune the hydrogel’s crosslinking level and consequently, mechanical properties.