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New sea urchin-inspired adhesives for biomedical applications: a biomimetic approach towards the development of new wet-effective, reversible, biocompatible, and ecological adhesives

Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa
Project classification

Scientific area

1.6 Biological sciences (Medical sciences go to scientific area 3.n; Agricultural sciences go to scientific area 4.n)

Discipline(s)

Biochemistry and molecular biology

Project description

Project title

New sea urchin-inspired adhesives for biomedical applications: a biomimetic approach towards the development of new wet-effective, reversible, biocompatible, and ecological adhesives

Scientific Coordinator's name:

Romana Lopes Almeida Santos

Scientific Coordinator's e-mail:

romana.santos@campus.ul.pt

Principal R&D Unit:

Centro de Ciências do Mar e do Ambiente (MARE) ; Centro de Química e Bioquímica (CQB)

Other R&D Units involved in the project:

Other R&D units involved in the project

Project keyword(s)

Sea Urchins; Reversible Adhesive; Biomimetism; Adhesive and De-adhesive Recombinant Proteins; Adhesive Synthetic Peptides

Short abstract and comments

This 5-year project entails an iterative, multidisciplinary biomimetic approach, to develop the first sea urchin- inspired adhesives for biomedical applications. My recent research disclosed the key players in sea urchin reversible adhesion. This project aims at further exploring the biotechnological potential of this new database through the production of biomimetic adhesive and de-adhesive proteins towards the development of new biomedical adhesives. Despite bioadhesives diversity and superiority compared to petrochemical-based counterparts, the later still dominate the adhesive market. Most surgical adhesives are based on synthetic cyanoacrylates, fibrin, albumin/glutaraldehyde or PEG polymer but despite their availability, these products are either harmful or toxic, not biodegradable, provide low adhesive strength or have a high risk of disease contaminations. This project addresses the need to bridge the technology gap between adhesive biomaterial characterization and engineering, through the production of nature-based, wet-effective, biocompatible, and environmentally safe adhesives. In addition, given the temporary nature of sea-urchin adhesion, de-adhesive molecules will also be produced to create reversible adhesives or cell/molecules displacers needed for medical implants.

Potential uses/indications

Sea urchin adhesive is water-resistant and effective on diverse substrata. Thus, it may find applications as a surgical adhesive or a tissue/cell-immobilising agent, while the deadhesive secretion can be used to develop a reversible adhesive or a coating to prevent unwanted adhesion of proteins/cells to biomedical devices.

Status

Ongoing

Partner Status: Seeking Partners?

Yes

Project weblink

http://romanasantos.wix.com/biomimetic-adhesive

Grant number (QREN, FP7, Eureka, etc)

IF/00006/2015

Last edited on

2017-02-07 16:42:32

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