Synthetic mucus- A bioinspired solution to diverse soft-material needs
Abstract
Mucins are highly glycosylated proteins secreted by all animals to fill diverse soft-material needs, including as lubricants, adhesives, filters, mineralizing agents, and as coatings to modulate biological response. Despite their important roles in nature, the hierarchical structures and material properties of this widespread class of protein remain poorly understood. As a consequence, neither mucins nor bioinspired synthetic polymers that seek to recreate the structures of mucins have been deployed to fill pressing DoD soft-material needs. Here, we will address this discrepancy by studying the structure of secreted mucins derived from varied animal sources. Based on these studies, we will prepare biomimetic polymers – termed ‘synthetic mucins’ – that recreate the structures and physical properties of their natural counterparts. A focus of these efforts will be on developing methods that can produce these biomimetic polymers on large scales and on demonstrating the tailorability of their material behaviors. To study the mechanism by which mucins interact with biological systems, we will print synthetic mucin brush polymer microarrays, and analyze their binding with a series of glycan binding analytes. These studies could benefit the DoD by providing new lubricants for mediating the interactions between biological interfaces, adhesives that operate underwater, coatings for mediating biotic-abiotic interfaces, and biological recognition elements for detecting analytes in organic and aqueous environments.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Feb 29, 2024
- Source ID
- FA95502310230
Entities
People
- Adam B Braunschweig
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Research Foundation of The City University of New York
- United States Air Force