Engineering underwater adhesives using hybrid proteins
Abstract
Marine organisms, such as mussels, barnacles, and sandcastle worms, have evolved highly effective protein-based materials to attach themselves to heterogeneous surfaces in high saline seawater. Inspired by the mechanisms of natural adhesive proteins, several synthetic underwater adhesives have been synthesized and have demonstrated outstanding underwater adhesivity. However, when used to adhere underwater objectives, all current adhesives need to be dissolved in water-immiscible solvents or form coacervates. Underwater application of liquid glues often presents challenges because liquid glues cannot be used on vertical surfaces and can easily flow away from the adherent surface under disturbance, preventing many practical applications. Considering these challenges, solid glues present a highly appealing, yet far less studied alternative for underwater applications. In this direction, we have recently designed and synthesized a hybrid protein that can form hydrogels with promising underwater adhesivity as well as high internal strength and toughness. To design even better solid underwater glues, this proposal aims to understand the relationships between protein sequence, material structure, and properties of engineered adhesive hydrogels. Using a bio-directed synthesis approach, we will prepare a suite of hybrid proteins with precisely defined sequences and component orders. The self-assembled structures of these hybrid proteins as well as the mechanical and adhesive properties of resulting hydrogels will be measured to elucidate the sequence-structure-property relationships. Successful completion of this project will generate novel adhesive hydrogels that can be easily used for a broad range of ONR applications, such as underwater repair of surfaces that are extremely difficult to repair using state-of-the-art liquid adhesives, expanding ONR~s capability and research in biomaterials. This project will also provide new knowledge on the sequence-structure-property relationship of protein-based hydrogels. The knowledge can be used as design rules to guide the engineering of future protein-based adhesive materials with tunable strength, toughness, and underwater adhesion. APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Apr 25, 2019
- Source ID
- N000141912126
Entities
People
- Fuzhong Zhang
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- Washington University in St. Louis