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A new type of glue, one
that mimics the ability of the mussel to
hold itself to just about anything under turbulent water, is being developed in
multiple universities and labs around the world. One of its major applications
could be a bio compatible glue that could help hold tissue together after injury or
surgery.
When it comes to hanging
on tight, mussels have few natural or even synthetic rivals. Researchers have
been trying to unravel the animals secret to clinging onto wet surfaces. To
hold to these surfaces beneath surging tides and crashing waves, the mussels
secrete liquid proteins that harden into a solid, water resistant glue. Researchers
have found that it is an amino acid called dihydroxyphenalalanine or DOPA.
http://radio-weblogs.com/0105910/images/musselonteflon.jpg
Knowing this, researchers
have been able to create a synthetic form of the protein and by mixing it with
a polymer, have created a synthetic form of the animals adhesive. This bio-inspired
glue has some very interesting properties one of which is its ability to self
repair. DOPA binds particularly well with iron, which both the mussel and the
polymer have an abundance of. When the bonds between the glue are broken, the
amino acid re-binds to the iron in the polymer, thus repairing the broken glue.
Another useful
characteristic of the glue is that it can be made to change state between a
very fluid liquid to a sticky gel. This process is controlled by other amino
acids that are found in the mussels. They cause the polymer to become soluble
in a low pH environment, thus ceasing to be an adhesive. The environment
becomes more alkaline, the structure of the polymer changes and the liquid
becomes a sticky gel.
The glue has been tested
on animals and small incisions in arteries can be sealed in a mere 20 seconds
after application. This and the previously mentioned properties, along with the
fact that the polymer is biodegradable, will allow surgeons to replace sutures
as the main closer of small to medium lacerations in tissue. The liquid version
of the glue can be applied to a wound where it will seep into small crevices
and more completely cover the wound. Then the polymer can be bathed in a
slightly alkaline solution to turn the liquid into glue. The glue would hold
the wound together while healing occurs and will degrade over time.
This material holds much
promise and could potentially save thousands of human lives.
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