An adhesive including a mixture of isocyanate capped molecules formed by
reacting multi-isocyanate functional molecules with multi-functional
precursor molecules including terminal functional groups selected from
the group consisting of a hydroxyl group, a primary amino group and a
secondary amino group. Preferably, the functional groups are hydroxyl
groups. The multi-functional precursor compounds are biocompatible.
Multi-amine functional precursors of the multi-isocyanate functional
molecules are also biocompatible. As discussed, above, the mixture of
molecules preferably has an average isocyanate functionality of at least
2.1 and, more preferably, has an average isocyanate functionality of at
least 2.5. As also described above, the mixture of molecules preferably
has a viscosity in the range of approximately 1 to approximately 100
centipoise. The mixture of molecules forms a crosslinked polymer network
upon contact with the organic tissue in the presence of water. The
crosslinked polymer network is biocompatible and biodegradable. The
crosslinked polymer network degrades into degradation products including
the precursor molecules and the multi-amine functional precursors.