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Biointerfacial Aspects of Mussel Adhesive Proteins and their Biologically Inspired Analogs: Nano Seminar Series

Seminar | September 11 | 2-3 p.m. | 390 Hearst Memorial Mining Bldg.

Speaker/Performer: Prof. Phillip B. Messersmith, Northwestern University, Biomedical Engineering / Institute for Bionanotechnology in Medicine

Sponsor: Berkeley Nanosciences and Nanoengineering Institute

In nature, large varieties of interesting adhesive strategies operate in wet and dry environments and serve to inspire the development of new materials.

Marine mussels, for example, have evolved sophisticated protein glues that robustly attach to rocks and man-made structures such as piers and ship hulls. The proteins found in these glues have very specialized amino acid compositions, undoubtedly related to the particular challenges of achieving permanent adhesion in the wet marine environment.

In this talk I will describe our current understanding of the molecular aspects of biological wet adhesives, including basic biophysical studies that have revealed unique interfacial properties of key residues found in mussel adhesive proteins.

The second half of the talk will illustrate how this information informs the design of novel biologically inspired materials, for example new polymer hydrogels for surgical adhesive and sealing applications, and several emerging coating technologies that exploit biomimetic polymer designs to enhance or prevent adhesion at surfaces.

Event Contact: nanoinstitute@lists.berkeley.edu, 510-643-6681