ABSTRACT
Natural substances have been employed as adhesive materials for many years now. Proteinaceous secretions from mussels, oysters and barnacles withstand the force of tides and are examples of natural adhesives. Their mechanism of action remains hard to discover due to the diversity of structures in biological adhesives. The most relevant and model system of biomimetic adhesives is the mussel byssus adhesive. The authors discuss various marine invertebrates that are studied for their bioadhesive properties and applications in the biomedical field. Molecular structures and the relatable features and examples of biomimetic materials are comprehended in order to understand their relevance based on the applications. There are several medical products that are being developed using this information, leading to advancements in the biological adhesive world. It is a known fact that mussel proteins receive their adhesion power and strength to stick to all kinds of surfaces in wet environments due to the secretion of mussel adhesive protein in large quantities. This protein contains catecholic amino acid, 1–3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (Dopa). Novel Dopa-containing adhesives are also discussed along with their properties and applications as viscous coacervated adhesives, soft adhesive hydrogels, smart adhesives and stiff adhesive polyesters. The authors further elaborate on the upcoming applications of marine adhesive proteins in the field of bioengineering and biomedicine.
