ASTM F2458 Wound Closure Strength of Tissue Adhesives and Sealants

Tissue adhesives are widely used in the biomedical industry for applications such as bandages, secondary dressings, wound closure and surgical sealants. ASTM F2458 is specifically focused on determining the wound closure strength of tissue adhesives or sealants. The substrate is typically a soft tissue (bovine, porcine or orvine) for development and characterization testing. For quality control, it is recommended to test a model substrate. The wound closure strength must be clearly defined before using in a clinical setting. If the adhesive is not strong enough, the product may lead to infection or poor healing. If the adhesive is too strong, the underlying tissue may become damaged. Other related ASTM standards for this type of application include: ASTM F2255, F2256 and F2258.

For this application, we typically recommend pneumatic grips. These grips are better for soft, compliant and sometimes slippery specimens since they maintain gripping pressure on the specimen throughout the test and can prevent slipping. We used a electromechanical test frame configured with a 100 N load cell, 250 N capacity pneumatic grips with 25 mm x 25 mm serrated faces.  

Although not required, in some cases it is desirable to test these adhesives under physiological conditions. In that case, we would suggest using the BioPuls™ Submersible Pneumatic Grips and Temperature-Controlled Bath. The bath can control the temperature of the fluid (water or saline solution) to 37° C +/- 1° C, and the submersible grips use pneumatics to maintain gripping pressure.