Supercharged nanoadhesive through co-assembly of recombinant protein and tetrahedral DNA for corneal transplantation

Abstract A traumatic tissue adhesive technology is highly sought after in ophthalmic surgery; however, many polymeric adhesives face significant limitations in clinical ophthalmology, particularly in corneal transplantation. A major challenge is achieving rapid adhesion without introducing polymer barriers or chemical toxicity from cross-linking. To address this, we developed a novel cornea-specific nanoadhesive constructed through protein-DNA co-assembly and applied it to corneal transplantation. In this system, a rigid tetrahedral DNA framework was employed to guide the spatial distribution of polycationic recombinant proteins (K72) and serve as the core of the nanoadhesive, facilitating energy conversion during tissue connection. The adhesive demonstrated a strength of 2.3 kPa between corneal lenticules. After modification with RGD peptides, the adhesive system significantly enhanced corneal epithelialization, reduced inflammation and neovascularization, and ultimately promoted corneal repair. This study represents the first application of a nanoadhesive in ophthalmic surgery, providing a novel solution for developing ophthalmic-specific adhesives for clinical use.