A team led by Professor Seung Yun Yang at Pusan National University developed a light-responsive, monolithic Janus dural patch from photocurable hyaluronic acid designed to seal the dura mater rapidly and watertight during neurosurgery.

Laboratory results show exceptionally strong adhesion—up to ten times that of commercial adhesives—along with reduced swelling, minimal weight gain, notable stretchability, and good biocompatibility.

The patch has a dual-surface design: a dense outer layer that promotes strong wet adhesion and a porous inner layer that absorbs fluids to minimize unintended tissue sticking, enabling lubricated, low-friction tissue contact.

In rabbit durotomy models, the patch achieved rapid dural closure without damaging surrounding skull, dura, or brain tissue, suggesting clinical compatibility.

The technology has been licensed to biotech company SNvia, which is scaling up manufacturing of photocrosslinkable hyaluronic acid; nonclinical studies are expected in early to mid-2026, with plans for a South Korean medical device clinical trial application in 2026.

The hyaluronic acid is chemically modified with photocrosslinkable groups (methacrylate and 4-pentenoate), and the patch is formed by lyophilization into a 0.2 mm thick structure that seals wounds within five seconds under low-energy visible light.

Publication details: Subin Kang et al., A monolithic Janus dural sealant with adhesive and lubricant surfaces activated by non-toxic visible light exposure, Chemical Engineering Journal, 2026 (DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2025.171881).

Broader implications point to potential uses beyond dura sealing, including drug-delivery patches, cell-laden constructs, and artificial tissues due to its strong wet adhesion and rapid sealing capabilities.