Structure of algal-born phenolic polymeric adhesives.
Adhesive materials extracted from the brown alga Fucus serratus are composed of phenolic polymer, alginate, and CaCl2. The phenolic polymer undergoes an oxidation reaction in the presence of bromoperoxidase, KI, and H2O2. The nanostructure of the adhesive was investigated using small angle X-ray scattering, light scattering, and cryo- transmission electron microscopy experiments. These have shown that the phenolic polymer undergoes self-assembly and forms flexible chain-like objects. Oxidation or adding alginate does not alter this structure. However, once calcium ions are added, a rigid network is formed. Presumably, this network is responsible for the cohesive strength of the glue.
Bitton
Ronit
R
Inter-Departmental Program for Biotechnology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
Ben-Yehuda
Maya
M
Davidovich
Maya
M
Balazs
Yael
Y
Potin
Philippe
P
Delage
Ludovic
L
Colin
Carole
C
Bianco-Peled
Havazelet
H
D044645:Fucus / Q000737:chemistry*; D062385:Hydroxybenzoates / Q000737:chemistry*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / Q000379:methods; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry; D019906:Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular / Q000379:methods; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D014014:Tissue Adhesives / Q000737:chemistry*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction / Q000379:methods
D062385:Hydroxybenzoates; D011108:Polymers; D014014:Tissue Adhesives; C017616:phenolic acid