“Super” Adhesives for Life Science Research Cyanoacrylate adhesives have been on the market since 1958. Most traditional suture, the new industrial or household grade cyanoacrylate is made of shorter alkyl super adhesive has several chain derivatives such as methyl or ethyl cyanoacrylate (WPI’s #7341 advantages. On average, it and #7342). They are very useful for temporarily holding tissues such takes only one-tenth of the as mounting specimens for microtome sectioning. However, they are time to close an incision. The not suitable for bonding wounds on live animals. The difficulties of using bonding strength is equal cyanoacrylate for bonding live animals are: (1) a strong, irritating odor; to 5-0 monofilament suture. (2) quick loss of bonding strength due to It also has a mysterious breakdown of the bonding by hydration; antimicrobial effect that (3) the breakdown products, cyanoacetate can decrease infection rates and formaldehyde, are toxic and can in contaminated wounds. cause inflammatory reactions; and (4) they Bonding will slough off have low flexibility and tend to be brittle. naturally in 5 to 7 days. Cosmetic appearance of the To overcome these problems, several healed incision is also better. longer alkyl chain cyanoacrylates have been developed especially for veterinary Gluture Topical Tissue and human use. The first longer alkyl Adhesive #503763 forms a strong and flexible film and is thus more chain product is butyl cyanoacrylate. suitable for surface wound bonding, protection, and holding a sensor or This product has been used for animal other device on the tissue. Setting time is about 10 seconds, which gives and human applications outside the USA ample time for application. It can also be used for temporarily holding a since 1970. It is much less toxic and has live tissue. For example, there is a report of using it to hold nematodes a lower odor than the methyl or ethyl on a glass slide for patch-clamp neurons recording. cyanoacrylate. The butyl cyanoacrylate All of the products offered by WPI are veterinary grade (not suitable for offered by WPI is Vetbond™. human application). Though very similar to the grade for human use, they A family of adhesives containing are not sterile and do not have FDA approval. octyl cyanoacrylate, a plasticizer and stabilizer, was 503763 Gluture Topical Tissue Adhesive (10 tips), 1.5 mL developed In the 1990’s (one of them approved by 7341 Cyanoacrylate Adhesive, low viscosity—90-120 cps (package of 10 vials, each approx 1.5mL) FDA for human use). When bonding to tissue, these 7342 Cyanoacrylate Adhesive, high viscosity—1100-1600 cps (pkg of 10 vials, each approx 1.5mL) new adhesives are four times stronger and less VETBOND 3M Vetbond™ Adhesive (3 mL) toxic than butyl cyanoacrylate. Compared with the LAB SUPPLIES Sylgard Silicone Dissecting Pad Kit A two-part silicone elastomer, ideal for potting and encapsulating applications. Very low dielectric constant sealing compound used in patch clamping and many other lab applications. After cure, will withstand -55° to 200 °C. Shipping weight: 2 lb. (1 kg) Make your own silicone dissecting pads easily and quickly. Mix the 2-part silicone right in the plastic petri dishes and allow to cure 24 hours at room temperature. Kit includes enough silicone to prepare 20 dishes. Kit Includes: 2-Part Sylgard silicone elastomer 20 plastic petri dishes with lids, 65mm Pins 501986 Silicone Dissecting Pad Kit SYLG184 Sylgard (1.1 lb) 96 UK: Tel: +44 (0)1462 424700 • wpiuk@wpi-europe.com World Precision Instruments www.wpiinc.com Germany: Tel: +49 (0)30-6188845 • wpide@wpi-europe.com US: Tel: 941-371-1003 • sales@wpiinc.com