Mussel Foot Protein Inspired Tape-Type Adhesive with Water-Responsive, High Conformal, Tough, and On-Demand Detachable Adhesion to Wet Tissue

Wet adhesion is highly demanded in noninvasive wound closure, tissue repair, and biomedical devices, but it is still a big challenge for developing biosafe and tough wet bioadhesives due to low or even nonadhesion in the wet state for conventional adhesives. Inspired by the wet-adhesion-contributing factors of mussel foot proteins, a water-responsive dry robust tissue adhesive PAGU tape is made with thickness of <0.5 mm through fast UV-initiated copolymerization of acrylic acid (AA), gelatin (Gel), and hexadecenyl-1,2-catechol (UH). The tape shows strong cohesive mechanical properties and strong interfacial adhesion bonds. Upon application onto wet tissue, the adhesive tape can conform to the tissue, quickly dry tissue surface through absorbing surface/interfacial water and then allows formation of interfacial bonding with a high interfacial toughness of approximate to 818 J m(-2). Furthermore, it can be readily detached by treating with aq. urea solution. A highly efficient avenue is provided here for producing conformable, tough, and easy detachable wet bioadhesive tapes.

Automated summary

In this study, a water-responsive dry robust tissue adhesive PAGU tape was developed through fast UV-initiated copolymerization of acrylic acid, gelatin, and hexadecenyl-1,2-catechol. The adhesive tape showed strong cohesive mechanical properties and strong interfacial adhesion bonds. It could conform to wet tissue, quickly dry the tissue surface and form high interfacial toughness interfacial bonding. Furthermore, it was easily detached by treating with aq. urea solution. This research provides an efficient method for producing conformable, tough, and easy detachable wet bioadhesive tapes.