Recent decades have witnessed a growing demand for biologically inspired, water-resistant adhesives for applications such as dental and medical transplants and coronary artery coatings. Research in this area has focused on mussels, which form strong, water-resistant bonds to various underwater surfaces.
To advance the development of next-generation wet adhesives, researchers combined an experimental approach with theoretical modeling to examine the molecular basis of the gluelike properties of mussel foot proteins. The authors mounted two opposing surfaces in a custom-designed instrument and filled the thin gap between the two surfaces with a solution containing a synthetic peptide derived from mussel foot proteins, namely the MFP-3s peptide.
During the approach and separation of the surfaces from one another, the instrument measured the interaction forces between the surfaces as a function of distance, at the nanometer length scale. The MFP-3s peptides exhibited strong adhesion forces between hydrophobic surfaces, but weak adhesion forces between hydrophilic surfaces.
Simulations revealed the molecular origin of this difference in adhesion. According to the authors, analysis of the molecular interactions that enhance the stickiness of mussel foot proteins could lay the foundation for the development of water-resistant glues for a range of biomedical applications.
http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2016/03/25/1603065113
Latest News
More influence of environme…
By newseditor
Posted 24 Apr
The assembly of the human c…
By newseditor
Posted 24 Apr
Wiring of the human neocortex
By newseditor
Posted 24 Apr
Abusive drugs hijack natura…
By newseditor
Posted 23 Apr
Mechanism of action of the…
By newseditor
Posted 23 Apr
Other Top Stories
Selective inhibition of peanut-specific antibodies
Read more
A gene implicated in protection against neuroinflammation
Read more
Immune alterations associated with progression of lung cancer
Read more
Structure and degradation of circular RNAs regulate PKR activation…
Read more
How scratching may prime children with eczema for food allergy and…
Read more
Protocols
A programmable targeted pro…
By newseditor
Posted 23 Apr
MemPrep, a new technology f…
By newseditor
Posted 08 Apr
A tangible method to assess…
By newseditor
Posted 08 Apr
Stem cell-derived vessels-o…
By newseditor
Posted 06 Apr
Single-cell biclustering fo…
By newseditor
Posted 01 Apr
Publications
Massively parallel screen u…
By newseditor
Posted 24 Apr
Distinct genetic and enviro…
By newseditor
Posted 24 Apr
Hippocampus-to-amygdala pat…
By newseditor
Posted 24 Apr
Integrative spatial analysi…
By newseditor
Posted 24 Apr
Time-series reconstruction…
By newseditor
Posted 24 Apr
Presentations
Hydrogels in Drug Delivery
By newseditor
Posted 12 Apr
Lipids
By newseditor
Posted 31 Dec
Cell biology of carbohydrat…
By newseditor
Posted 29 Nov
RNA interference (RNAi)
By newseditor
Posted 23 Oct
RNA structure and functions
By newseditor
Posted 19 Oct
Posters
A chemical biology/modular…
By newseditor
Posted 22 Aug
Single-molecule covalent ma…
By newseditor
Posted 04 Jul
ASCO-2020-HEALTH SERVICES R…
By newseditor
Posted 23 Mar
ASCO-2020-HEAD AND NECK CANCER
By newseditor
Posted 23 Mar
ASCO-2020-GENITOURINARY CAN…
By newseditor
Posted 23 Mar