Patent ID: RE38827

Claim:
An adhesive composition consisting essentially of i) a first aqueous mixture of about 20-60 wt/vol % serum albumin in about 0.01-0.25 molar buffer at a pH in a range of about 8.0-11.0, ii) a second aqueous mixture of about 50-800 mg/ml of a crosslinking agent having a molecular weight in a range of about 1,000-15,000, wherein the crosslinking agent is of the formula G—LM—PEG—LM—G wherein —PEG— is a diradical fragment represented by the formula —O—(CH 2 —CH 2 —O—) a — where a is an integer from 20-300; wherein —LM— is a diradical fragment selected from the group consisting of a carbonate diradical of the formula, —C(O)—, a monoester diradical of the formula, —(CH 2 ) b C(O)— where b is an integer from 1-5, a diester radical of the formula, —C(O)—(CH 2 ) c —C(O)— where c is an integer from 2-10 and where the aliphatic portion of the diradical may be saturated or unsaturated, a dicarbonate diradical of the formula —C(O)—O—(CH 2 ) d —O—C(O)— where d is an integer from 2-10, and an oligomeric diradical represented by the formulas —R—C(O)—, —R—C(O)—(CH 2 ) c —C(O)—, or —R—C(O)—O—(CH 2 ) d —O—C(O)— where c is an integer from 2-10, d is an integer from 2-10, and R is a polymer or copolymer having 1-10 monomeric fragments selected from the group consisting of lactide, glycolide, trimethylene carbonate, caprolactone and p-dioxanone; and wherein —G is a leaving group selected from the group consisting of succinimidyl, maleimidyl, phthalimidyl, imidazolyl, nitrophenyl or tresyl, and wherein a combination of the first and second mixtures is initially liquid and then cures on the surface of tissue to give a flexible, substantive matrix which bonds to the tissue and has a burst strength greater than about 10 mmHg.