Dear Editor,
I read the recent publication on cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive by Romero et al. with great interest.[1] Romero et al, conclude that the polymerization reaction might also be an important factor in the antibacterial properties of liquid ethyl-cyanoacrylate (EC) and N-butyl-cyanoacrylate (BC).[1] Indeed, the use of cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive as fibrin glue is accepted for its efficacy in medicine. The bactericidal activity of EC and BC reported in the paper by Romero et al,[1] is of interest. The bactericidal activity of this kind of medical product has been mentioned for a very long time.[2] The polymerization reaction can play a role as raised by Romero et al.[1] Based on the concept of nanomedicine, the polymerization reaction is a kind of exothermic reaction, constructing bonds between molecules,[3,4] and this can be the source of energy that result in bactericidal outcome.
References
- 1.Romero IL, Malta JB, Silva CB, Mimica LM, Soong KH, Hida RY. Antibacterial properties of cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive: Does the polymerization reaction play a role? Indian J Ophthalmol. 2009;57:341–4. doi: 10.4103/0301-4738.55065. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
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- 4.Dietler G, Känzig W, Haeberli A, Straub PW. Temperature dependence of fibrin polymerization: A light scattering study. Biochemistry. 1985;24:6701–6. doi: 10.1021/bi00344a060. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]