A Water-Borne Adhesive Modeled after the Sandcastle

Polyacrylate glue protein analogs of the glue secreted by Phragmatopoma californica, a marine po synthesized with phosphate, primary amine, and catechol sidechains with molar ratios similar to th proteins. Aqueous mixtures of the mimetic polyelectrolytes condensed into liquid complex coacerv neutral pH. Wet cortical bone specimens bonded with the coacervates, oxidatively crosslinked thro sidechains, had bond strengths nearly 40% of the strength of a commercial cyanoacrylate. The uniq properties of complex coacervates may be ideal for development of clinically useful adhesives and biomaterials.