Injectable and photocurable precursors with their improved adhesive elastomeric films by nature-inspired marine mussels chemistry

26 August 2024, Version 2
This content is a preprint and has not undergone peer review at the time of posting.

Abstract

Photocurable materials, capable of being delivered as liquids and rapidly cured in situ within seconds using UV light, are garnering increased interest in advanced minimally invasive procedures. Examining living organisms to extract novel principles and technologies, and subsequently applying them into synthetic materials to enhance their performances holds a central position in biomimetics (bioinspiration). In this exploration, we delve into the multifaceted world of marine mussel adhesion, emphasizing the pivotal role of 3,4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine (L-DOPA) in adhesive proteins. Simultaneously, we navigated the promising realm of elastomers derived from fatty acid dimers. 90° peeling test and fluorescence microscope indicate that the adhesiveness of the catechol-containing samples (5% and 10%) versus control samples were ~4 and 8 times higher, respectively, as compared to within the tested group. Overall, our results suggest that the incorporation of methacrylated L-DOPA in the synthesis of photocured elastomeric networks leads to improved water contact angle and adhesiveness, creating new avenues for potential biomedical applications.

Keywords

fatty acid dimers
telechelic macromonomer
marine mussel adhesives
methacrylated L-DOPA
water contact angle
adhesiveness
fluorescence microscopy

Supplementary materials

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Description
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Microscope images
Description
Water contact angle measurements data and surface re-organization model; bright-field and fluorescence microscopic images
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