Recent Progress of Mussel‐Inspired Underwater Adhesives

Abstract

Underwater adhesion is greatly desired in tissue transplantation, medical treatment, ocean transportation, and so on. However, common commercial polymeric adhesives are rather weakened and easily destroyed in water environment. In nature, some marine organisms, such as mussels, barnacles, or tube worms, exhibiting excellent underwater adhesion up to robust bonding on the rock of sea floor, can give exciting solutions to address the problem. Among these marine organisms, mussels exhibit unique underwater adhesion via the foot proteins of byssus. It has been verified that the catechol groups from the side chain of the mussel foot proteins is the main contribution to the unique underwater adhesion. Hence, inspired by the mussels' underwater adhesion, many mussel-mimetic polymers with catechol as end chains or side chains have been developed in the past decades. Here, we review recent progress of mussel-inspired underwater adhesives polymers from their catechol-functional design to their potential applications in intermediates, anti-biofouling, self-healing of hydrogels, biological adhesives, and drug delivery. The review may provide basis and help for the development of the commercial underwater adhesives.

Mussel-inspired bio-compatible free-standing adhesive films assembled layer-by-layer with water-resistance

“…[6][7][8] Underwater adhesion is also generally desired in medical treatment, tissue healing, and other applications, especially with abundant exudates on the wound surface. 6,9,10 However, several commercial adhesives with strong adhesion abilities, such as polyepoxies and polyacrylates, still have technical limitations with both water resistance and underwater adhesion, because water weakens adhesion by dispersing into the interface between the adhesive and substrate with sufficient water volume. 10,11 Thus, researching the water-resistant performance of medical adhesives is essential for practical applications.…”

“…6,9,10 However, several commercial adhesives with strong adhesion abilities, such as polyepoxies and polyacrylates, still have technical limitations with both water resistance and underwater adhesion, because water weakens adhesion by dispersing into the interface between the adhesive and substrate with sufficient water volume. 10,11 Thus, researching the water-resistant performance of medical adhesives is essential for practical applications. Fortunately, nature provides examples of water-resistant adhesives, such as the marine mussel adhesive protein, which can bond strongly and durably to various surfaces in wet environments.…”

Asymmetric Janus adhesive tape prepared by interfacial hydrosilylation for wet/dry amphibious adhesion

“…Many unique adhesion phenomena in nature, such as dry adhesion of geckos [16][17][18][19] and wet adhesion of mussels [20][21][22][23] , barnacles 24 , and octopi 25 , have inspired the rational design of functional adhesive materials. Geckoinspired dry adhesion 26 and octopus-inspired wet adhesion 25,27 are often based on elaborate replicating templates with unique structures.…”

Utilization of catecholic functionality in natural safrole and eugenol to synthesize mussel-inspired polymers

“…Recent advances demonstrate that judicious biomimetic design incorporating key elements in the natural adhesive system is essential to replicate the wet adhesion of the marine organism. 4,5 Several reviews deal with the recent progress of mussel-inspired underwater adhesives polymers having catechol-functional motifs for their potential applications in anti-biofouling, biological adhesives, and drug delivery. 6,7 A review specically provides an overview of the various applications of poly[2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethylamine] (i.e.…”

“…4,5 Several reviews deal with the recent progress of mussel-inspired underwater adhesives polymers having catechol-functional motifs for their potential applications in anti-biofouling, biological adhesives, and drug delivery. 6,7 A review specically provides an overview of the various applications of poly[2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethylamine] (i.e. polydopamine (PDA)) in tumor targeted drug delivery systems and discusses the release behavior of the drugloaded PDA-based nanocarriers.…”