The
excellent adhesion of mussels under wet conditions has inspired
the development of numerous catechol-based wet adhesives. Nevertheless,
the performance of catechol-based wet adhesive suffers from the sensitivity
toward temperature, pH, or oxidation stimuli. Therefore, it is of
great significance to develop non-catechol-based wet adhesives to
fully recapitulate nature’s dynamic function. Herein, a novel
type of non-catechol-based wet adhesive is reported, which is readily
formed by self-assembly of commercially available branched polyethylenimine
and phosphotungstic acid in aqueous solution through the combination
of electrostatic interaction and hydrogen bonding. This wet adhesive
shows reversible, tunable, and strong adhesion on diverse substrates
and further exhibits high efficacy in promoting biological wound healing.
During the healing of the wound, the as-prepared wet adhesive also
possesses inherent antimicrobial properties, thus avoiding inflammations
and infections due to microorganism accumulation.