ABSTRACT
Considerable interest in clinical and experimental medicine has been raised by tissue adhesives since the synthesis of cyanoacrylate analogs. The various cyanoacrylates differ primarily in the speed with which they polymerize the degree of tissue irritation they produce, and their biodegradability. Methyl-cyanoacrylate polymerizes extremely rapidly, is relatively rapidly biodegradable, and produces an intense tissue irritation. At the other extreme, the isopropyl-cyanoacrylate is slowly biodegradable, produces minimum tissue reaction, and polymerizes more slowly. The story of the development and investigation of the cyanoacrylates illustrates many of the pitfalls of clinical research and development. It became apparent that the methyl-cyanoacrylate was probably too irritating to tissues to be useful. In addition, it polymerized extremely rapidly which was probably neither necessary nor desirable. Cyanoacrylate polymerization is triggered by the exposure to moisture; the polymer is resistent to both acid and alkaline pH. There does not appear to be systemic toxicity from the cyanoacrylates.
