Mussel foot protein inspired tough tissue-selective underwater adhesive hydrogel

Novel underwater tissue-selective adhesive hydrogels with adhesion energy to wet porcine skin of ∼1011 J m−2 were made by bio-mimicking Mfps.

Graphene oxide/mussel foot protein composites for high-strength and ultra-tough thin films

Graphene oxide (GO)-based composite materials have become widely popular in many applications due to the attractive properties of GO, such as high strength and high electrical conductivity at the nanoscale. Most current GO composites use organic polymer as the matrix material and thus, their synthesis suffers from the use of organic solvents or surfactants, which raise environmental and energy-consumption concerns. Inspired by mussel foot proteins (Mfp) secreted by the saltwater mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis and by recent advances in microbial protein production, we developed an aqueous-based green synthesis strategy for preparing GO/Mfp film composites. These GO/Mfp films display high tensile strength (134–158 MPa), stretchability (~ 26% elongation), and high toughness (20–24 MJ/m3), beyond the capabilities of many existing GO composites. Renewable production of Mfp proteins and the facile fabrication process described provides a new avenue for composite material synthesis, while the unique combination of mechanical properties of GO/Mfp films will be attractive for a range of applications.

Bioinspired by both mussel foot protein and bone sialoprotein: universal adhesive coatings for the promotion of mineralization and osteogenic differentiation

Natural protein bioinspired coatings are developed to promote the mineralization and osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells for implant material use.

Tropoelastin-Inspired, Non-Ionic, Self-Coacervating Polyesters as Strong Underwater Adhesives

Inspired from the one-component self-coacervation of tropoelastin and mussel foot protein-3s, we created the first non-ionic, single component coacervates that can coacervate in a all ranges of pH (acidic to basic) and wide range of ionic strengths with degradability, rapid curing and strong underwater adhesion. In contrast to the complex coacervates, these ‘charge-free’ coacervates are potential candidates as tissue adhesives and sealants, adhesives for sensor attachment to wet skin, and as sprayable adhesives. Their potential use in the clinic arises from their enhanced stability to changes in external conditions, cytocompatibility, biodegradability and modular nature in incorporating various functional groups and crosslinkers.

Tropoelastin-Inspired, Non-Ionic, Self-Coacervating Polyesters as Strong Underwater Adhesives

Inspired from the one-component self-coacervation of tropoelastin and mussel foot protein-3s, we created the first non-ionic, single component coacervates that can coacervate in a all ranges of pH (acidic to basic) and wide range of ionic strengths with degradability, rapid curing and strong underwater adhesion. In contrast to the complex coacervates, these ‘charge-free’ coacervates are potential candidates as tissue adhesives and sealants, adhesives for sensor attachment to wet skin, and as sprayable adhesives. Their potential use in the clinic arises from their enhanced stability to changes in external conditions, cytocompatibility, biodegradability and modular nature in incorporating various functional groups and crosslinkers.

Self-assembled adhesive biomaterials formed by a genetically designed fusion protein

A spider with mussel: a supramolecular fiber formed by a spider dragline protein was tuned to have underwater adhesion property by genetic fusion of a mussel foot protein.