Traditional sutures have been used for centuries to close wounds after surgery or trauma but often lead to complications such as inflammation, scarring, and pain. A new alternative, laser tissue welding and soldering, is about to change medical suturing. Laser tissue welding and soldering use laser energy to join tissues together without physical stitches, which reduces scarring, heals more quickly, and reduces the risk of infection.
Though laser wound closure has worked in experiments, it is not yet widely used in real surgery. Researchers are working to improve its performance by studying how different lasers interact with body tissues and developing biocompatible materials for strengthening the bond. There are a few challenges that need to be overcome, like developing long-term strength in mobile parts of the body, like tendons, nerves, and the esophagus.
This article explains the latest advances in laser tissue welding, including how different lasers work, how they are being applied to different organs of the body, and how to reduce side effects like scarring. Scientists foresee that with ongoing improvements, laser suturing could eventually replace traditional stitches in a variety of operations, with the benefit of faster recovery and better cosmetic outcomes.
Full text: Yuxin Chen, Kehong Wang, Jun Huang, Xiaopeng Li, Yunfeng Rui, An extensive evaluation of laser tissue welding and soldering biotechnologies: Recent advancements, progress, and applications, Current Research in Biotechnology, Volume 8, 2024, 100234, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crbiot.2024.100234.