title: A water-borne adhesive modeled after the sandcastle glue of P. californica.
abstract: Polyacrylate glue protein analogs of the glue secreted by Phragmatopoma californica, a marine polycheate, were synthesized with phosphate, primary amine, and catechol sidechains with molar ratios similar to the natural glue proteins. Aqueous mixtures of the mimetic polyelectrolytes condensed into liquid complex coacervates around neutral pH. Wet cortical bone specimens bonded with the coacervates, oxidatively crosslinked through catechol sidechains, had bond strengths nearly 40% of the strength of a commercial cyanoacrylate. The unique material properties of complex coacervates may be ideal for development of clinically useful adhesives and other biomaterials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.forename: Kent N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Bachus
authors.forename: Russell J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Stewart
mesh_terms: D000269:Adhesives / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008422:Materials Testing; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011077:Polychaeta / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000269:Adhesives; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011108:Polymers; D014867:Water