Adhesive sealant composition

A method of making a tissue adhesive consisting of the step of forming a mixture of

• i) a first aqueous mixture of about 20-60 wt/vol % serum albumin in about 0.01-0.25 molar buffer at a pH in a range of about 8.0-11.0,
• ii) a second aqueous mixture of about 50-800 mg/ml of a crosslinking agent having a molecular weight in a range of about 1,000-15,000, wherein the crosslinking agent is of the formula
• G--LM--PEG--LM--G
• wherein --PEG-- is a diradical fragment represented by the formula
• --O--(CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --O--).sub.a --
• where a is an integer from 20-300;
• wherein --LM-- is a diradical fragment selected from the group consisting of a carbonate diradical of the formula, --C(O)--, a monoester diradical of the formula, --(CH.sub.2).sub.b C(O)-- where b is an integer from 1-5, a diester diradical of the formula, --C(O)--(CH.sub.2).sub.c --C(O)-- where c is an integer from 2-10 and where the aliphatic portion of the diradical may be saturated or unsaturated, a dicarbonate diradical of the formula --C(O)--O--(CH.sub.2).sub.d --O--C(O)-- where d is an integer from 2-10, and an oligomeric diradical represented by the formulas --R--C(O)--, --R--C(O)--(CH.sub.2).sub.c --C(O)--, or --R--C(O)--O--(CH.sub.2).sub.d --O--C(O)-- where c is an integer from 2-10, d is an integer from 2-10, and R is a polymer or copolymer having 1-10 monomeric fragments selected from the group consisting of lactide, glycolide, trimethylene carbonate, caprolactone and p-dioxanone;
• and
• wherein --G is a leaving group selected from the group consisting of succinimidyl, maleimidyl, phthalimidyl, imidazolyl, nitrophenyl or tresyl, and
• wherein a combination of the first and second mixtures is initially liquid and then cures on the surface of tissue to give a flexible, substantive matrix which bonds to the tissue and has a burst strength greater than about 10 mmHg.