Cyanoacrylate Medical
Adhesives———A New Era
Colgate® ORABASE® Soothe-N-Seal” 2
Liquid Protectant for Canker Sore Relief
Upvan Narang, PhD
Manager, Product Development
‘Closure Medical Corpora/tvion
‘Raleigh, North Ca-rolina’
Abstract: Cyanoacrylate, a synthetic adhesive, is a fast polymerizable liquid
monomer. Serendipity led to the discovery of cyanoacrylate adhesives in
1951. Today, a specific cyanoacrylate monomer, 2-octyl cyanoacrylate, is
being used in a topical medical adhesive formulation. The only over—the—
counter cyanoacrylate—based product cleared by the Food and Drug
Administration is Colgate® ORABASE® Soothe-N-Seal“ Liquid Protectant.
Upon application, this liquid monomer formulation polymerizes instantly into
a thin, flexible polymer film that adheres tenaciously to mucosal tissue. This
polymer film creates a mechanical barrier that provides immediate and long—
term pain relief of oral ulcerations and irritations, and maintains a natural
healing environment for the area to healfl
The History of cyanoacrylate Adhesives
In 1951, Dr. H. W. Coover was conducting research on heat—resistant
acrylate polymers at the research laboratories of Tennessee Eastman
Company. To measure the refractive index of ethyl cyanoacrylate, it was
placed between the two prisms of an Abbe refractometer. After measuring the
refractive index, it was realized that the prisms were glued together, a loss of
a $700 instrument but the discovery of cyanoacrylate adhesives.‘ The first
commercial industrial~grade cyanoacrylate adhesive, Eastman 910 adhesive,
was introduced in 1958.‘
The first medical application of cyanoacrylates was the use of industrial»
grade material during the Korean and Vietnam wars, primarily as a hemostat—
ic agent. Ethicon, a division of Johnson & Johnson, pursued the medical use
of cyanoacrylates in the 1960s but failed to get approval from the Food and
Drug Administration (FDA)? In 1989, Closure Medical Corporation started
research on the development of a Z—octyl cyanoacrylate (Z—OCA) and devel~
oped an extremely pure form. Based on this pure 2—OCA, a medical cyano—
acrylate product, DERMABOND®"“ Topical Skin Adhesive, was approved by
the FDA in 1998. In 1999, using another unique 2—OCA formulation, Closure
Medical Corporation received FDA clearance on the first over—the—counter
(OTC) cyanoacrylate product, Colgate® ORABASE® Soothe-N-Seal“ Liquid
Protectantb, indicated for use on canker sores, mouth sores, and traumatic
ulcers. Recently (January 2001), Closure Medical Corporation received FDA
clearance for their second OTC cyanoacrylate product, Liquid Adhesive
Bandage. This uniquely formulated Z—OCA liquid bandage is indicated for use
on minor cuts, minor abrasions, and minor burns and irritations in place of
using regular tape adhesive bandages. In Europe and Canada, cyanoacrylate
derivatives have been available as surgical tissue adhesives for many years.“
The Types of cyanoacrylates NEG H
The general formula of a cyanoacrylate monomer \C=C/
is displayed (right). ‘R’ is most commonly an alkyl 0 C/ \H
»- Ethicon, Somerville, NJ 08876; soo—255,25oo ’ \
" Colgate Oral Pharmaceuticals, Canton, MA 02021; 800~8Zl-Z880
Vol. 22, N0. 32
Learning Objectives:
After reading this article, the
reader should be able to:
0 describe the cyanoacrylate
technology used to develop
Colgate'5' ORABASE‘
Soothe -N - Seal” Liquid
Protectant.
differentiate between
industrial— and medical—
grade cyanoacrylate
adhesives.
appreciate the benefits
offered by Colgate®
ORABASE""“
Soothe-N-Seal” Liquid
Protectant.
discuss the mechanism of
action for the various
benefits provided by
Colgate“ ORABASE”""
Soothe-N-Seal” Liquid
Protectant.
2-alkyl cyanoacrylate monomer
Compendium / June 2001 7
Figure 1C-3 months after th application of DERMABOND®
adhesive.
group such as methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, butyl,
octyl, etc. Although many other esters are
reported in the literaturef the most common—
ly used industrial—grade cyanoacrylates are the
short—chain methyl and ethyl cyanoacrylates.
Unfortunately, the short alkyl—chain—cyano»
acrylates proved to be toxic to tissue, pre»
venting their use as medical adhesives.“ 2»
OCA, a longer alkyl~chain—length cyanoacry-
late, has been formulated to various products
that have been approved by the FDA for use
in the United Statesf‘
|ndustriaI- vs Medical-Grade
cyanoacrylates
The primary property that distinguishes a
medical~grade from an industrial»grade
cyanoacrylate is its biocompatibility. The
main factors that have been found to impact
the biocompatibility of cyanoacrylates are:
(1) the purity of the cyanoacrylate monomer
used; (2) the degradation rate of the poly—
cyanoacrylate formed"'7'“’; and (3) the choice
and concentration of stabilizers used. The
short alkyl~chain—length polycyanoacrylates
degrade rapidly, resulting in the accumula—
tion of degradation products, which are
reported to cause tissue reaction.“*7*9 However,
longer alkyl—chain—length polycyanoacrylates
iiiatniiipendinfm / June 2001
Figure 1B—lmmediate|y after application oi DERMABOND®
adhesive to the laceration.
degrade slowly, improving their biocompati~
bility.“*’
Industrial—grade cyanoacrylate monomers
lack purity, they illicit tissue reaction, and the
polycyanoacrylate films formed are brittle.“-7'”
In contrast, the medical—grade cyanoacrylates,
specifically Closure Medical Corporations
2—OCA, has a purity of 2 99% and the poly-
Z«OCA films formed are flexible.” To manu~
facture a medical~grade cyanoacrylate, the
manufacturing, formulation, and packaging
processes must be very consistent. '
2-Doivi cyanoacrylate
Closure Medical Corporation’s Z—OCA is a
medical—grade cyanoacrylate. Under ambient
conditions (room temperature), it is a reactive
liquid that will polymerize in the presence of
moisture, wound fluid, or other anionic and
basic materials. Mucosal surfaces are moist
enough to instantly transform Z—OCA liquid
monomer into a film of poly»2—OCA. The poly-
2—OCA film has the flexibility and continuity
to function as an excellent microbial barrier. It
adheres tenaciously to tissue and sloughs off as
the wound heals and epithelializes.
DERMABOND® Topical Skin Adhesive
In 1998, DERMABOND® Topical Skin
Adhesive, a professional product that is based
on a Z—OCA formulation, was approved by the
FDA for topical wound closure. It is indicated
for closing lacerations and incisions in place of
sutures and staples, and has been demonstrated
to have wound»closure strength equivalent to
5—O suturesf‘ It provides numerous benefits to
both patients and providers, such as: (1) no
need for a local anesthetic; (2) no trauma from
cannula punctures in and around the wound;
(3) improved cosmetic outcome because there
are no suture needle tracks; and (4) no need
Vol. 22, NO. 32
‘;Z}E.;;ir;3I.§..{i,f
Mouth 50/*9 Ifam ‘
Figure 2~Consumer package for Colgate® 0RABASE®
Soothe-N-Seal” Liquid Protectant tor Canker Sore Relief.
Figure 4A—Drip two drops of the ormulation Into a well.
for return visits for suture removal because
DERMABOND® adhesive sloughs off as the
wound heals and the skin around the lacera»
tion re»epithelializes.
In Figure 1A, a child presents with a lacer~
ation around the eyelid area; in Figure 1B,
DERMABOND® adhesive, a liquid monomer
formulation, has been applied and formed a
film within approximately 1 minute. Figure 1C
demonstrates the excellent cosmetic outcome.
Since the introduction of DERMABOND®
Topical Skin Adhesive in 1998, we estimate
that it has been used with success in more than
5 million procedures.
Colgate® 0RABASE® Soothe-N-Seal'”“
In 1999, based on a unique Z~OCA formu»
lation, the first OTC cyanoacrylate product,
Colgate® ORABASE® Soothe-N-Seal” Liquid
Protectant, was cleared by the FDA. The con»
sumer package (Figure 2) contains 10 applica—
tor swabs, a plastic dropper bottle containing
the Z~OCA formulation, and a plastic tray
with 10 individual wells (Figure 3). It should
be noted that the applicator swab has foam
on either end; the round end is for drying the
ulceration/irritation and the pointed end is for
the application of the 2~OCA formulation.
Vol.22, No.32
Igure 3—Contents of the consumer package for Co|gate®
ORABASE“) Soothe-N-Seal” Liquid Protectant.
Figure 4B~Dip the pointed end of the swab Into the well containing
the formulation.
Easy to Apply
To apply the product on an oral ulcera—
tion/irritation (Figures 4A and 4B and 5A
through 5D), 2 drops of the Z—OCA formula»
tion are dripped into one of the 10 wells in
the tray. The pointed end of the swab is
dipped into the well for a few seconds until
the liquid is absorbed. The lip or cheek is
pulled away from the mouth sore (Figure 5A).
The ulceration/irritation is dried by gently
dabbing with the round end of the swab
(Figure 5B). The pointed end of the swab is
dabbed on the area for no more than a second
(Figure 5C). A second dab may be necessary
before discarding the swab. The newly formed
polymer will feel like a textured film over the
area (Figure 5D).
Microbial Barrier Film
The polymer film formed by the Z~OCA
formulation was tested in vitro for its micro»
bial barrier properties. Glass penicylinders
were placed in the middle of agar plates. The
Z—OCA formulation pipetted into the glass
penicylinder polymerized instantly on con-
tact with the moist agar surface. The film was
challenged with a solution containing at least
105 colony forming units (CFU) of various
Compendium/June 200‘:
10
Figure 5APu|lte lip orcheek tor application.
Figure 5C—Dab pointed end of the swab on the sore.
microorganisms by placing the inoculum on
top of the film and then incubating it under
conditions appropriate to the organism. The
organisms tested were Staphylococcus aureus,
Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, Aspergillus
niger, Staphylococcus mutans, Streptococcus
mutans, Streptococcus salivarius, and Clostridium
sartagoforme. As a positive control, the poly-2-
OCA films formed were deliberately compro»
mised by poking pinholes in the film.
Figure 6A represents a film that was chal»
lenged by 105 CFU of S aureus inoculum daily
for 7 days. There was no growth observed at
the bottom of the film, even after the repeated
challenge. In contrast, within the first 24
hours, there was significant growth observed
on the positive control (Figure 6B) demon»
strating that the intact poly»2»OCA film is a
microbial barrier. Similar results were obtained
with all the organisms tested.
Pain Relief and Natural Healing
Environment
In clinical studies, patients using this
product on mouth sores such as aphthous
ulcers experienced immediate and long»term
pain relief.” Faster healing was observed in
the investigational clinical study for this
Compendium / June 2001
Figure 5B—Dry sore (remove moisture) with round en of the
swab.
Figure 5D——Within seconds, a poly-2—0CA film is formed over
the sore.
product.” It is believed that the action of the
poly»Z»OCA film as a mechanical barrier is
the mechanism of action for both of these
product attributes.
Figure 7A is a schematic representing an
oral ulceration/irritation, which can be irri»
tated by any external stimulus such as eating,
drinking, etc. Upon application, liquid
cyanoacrylate instantly polymerizes into a
film that completely covers the area (Figures
5D and 7B). This film is a flexible physical
and microbial barrier that adheres tenacious»
ly and intimately to the mucosal tissue. Such
a mechanical barrier completely protects the
area from the external environment, thus
providing a natural environment for healing.
The film is formed within seconds of applica»
tion and covers the exposed nerve endings of
the area, providing instant pain relief. The
film stays on for hours, providing long»term
pain relief. The patient can safely eat and
drink, with little or no pain, while using the
product. The film gradually sloughs off the
oral mucosa.
other Properties
The poly»Z»OCA film is odorless and
tasteless. Shelf life of the product is 2 years
Vol.22, No.32
Figure 6A—
Glass cylinder
on an agar plate
containing an
intact poly-2-
OCA film, which
has been repeat-
edly challenged
for 7 days with
105 CFU of S
aureus.
Figure 7A——
Painful irritants
such as food §
easily penetrate
untreated
canker sores.
under ambient (room temperature) storage
conditions. This product has been uniquely
formulated and packaged to maintain stability
during storage and also maintain its reactivity
to set within seconds when applied on the
mucosal tissue.
Conclusion
Colgate® ORABASE® Soothe-N-Sealm
Liquid Protectant is the first OTC cyanoacry»
late product cleared by the FDA. It is a liquid
that sets into a film on the mucosal tissue with»
in seconds of application. The resulting poly»
cyanoacrylate film is a thin, tasteless, odorless,
flexible microbial barrier that stays on for
hours. It provides immediate and long»term
pain relief and a natural healing environment
for the area to heal.
References
1. Coover HW: Cyanoacrylate adhesives——A day of
serendipity, a decade of hard work. ACS Org Coat Appl
Polym Sci Proc 48:24}, 1983.
2. Ellis DA, Shaikh A: The ideal tissue adhesive in facial
Vol. 22, No.32
Figure 68-
Glass cylinder
on an agar plate
containing a
deliberately
compromised
poly-2—0CA ‘
film, which has ’
been challenged
with 105 CFU of
S aureus and
incubated for
24 hours.
Figure 7B—
This unique
liquid barrier
seals nerve
endings for
immediate
pain relief and
protection
from irritation
up to 6 hours,
allowing heal-
ing to occur.
10.
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Compendium / June 2001
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