Research progress of medical bioadhesives: fundamental Theory, clinical applications, and future perspectives

Medical bioadhesive glues are transforming surgery, trauma care, and regenerative medicine by enabling rapid tissue adhesion and promoting healing. They offer alternatives to sutures and staples, which can prolong operative time, damage tissue, and provoke foreign body reactions. However, clinical translation remains limited by challenges in long-term safety assessment, standardized evaluation, and adaptation to complex surgical settings. Drawing on a comprehensive search of PubMed and Web of Science, this review traces the evolution of bioadhesives from natural materials to biomimetic designs and smart materials. We examine the fundamental relationships among chemical composition, biocompatibility, and mechanical properties; discuss innovations in material architecture, fabrication strategies, and adhesion mechanisms; and review applications in surgery, trauma care, and tissue engineering. We also outline future directions for personalized systems, stimulus-responsive platforms, and multifunctional materials, alongside unresolved challenges in biosafety, standardization, and performance. This review provides a mechanistic basis for the rational design and clinical translation of next-generation medical bioadhesive glues.