Elucidating the Chemical Mechanisms for Adhesion: Towards New Biopolymeric Adhesives

该奖项由化学、材料和化学部颁发。 材料下的分子和细胞生物学研究 合成和加工倡议。的广泛目标 研究的目的是了解 生物分子在凝聚相界面处的相互作用，以及 生物粘附的化学机制。具体目标是 了解粘附肽之间的相互作用， 表面，并利用这些见解来综合， 表征具有增强的生物相容性的新的生物相容性多肽 粘合和弹性性能。工作的重点将是 与重复十肽相关的肽，所述重复十肽包含 贻贝粘附蛋白（MAP）。 结果将应用于 由胶粘剂和弹性体组成的新材料的设计 多肽序列。这些粘合剂也有望成为 生物相容性和稳定的体内，提供了一个有价值的新的 用于医疗和生物分析的材料类别 应用. %%% 这项研究将提供新的见解的关系 肽和蛋白质一级结构之间的联系; 控制生物聚合物粘附和折叠的化学相互作用 在表面;和在开发新的生物相容性 具有优化机械性能的粘合剂。

This award is made by the Divisions of Chemistry, Materials Research and Molecular and Cellular Biology under the Materials Synthesis and Processing Initiative. The broad goal of the research is to understand the conformations and surface interactions of biomolecules at condensed phase interfaces, and the chemical mechanisms of bioadhesion. The specific goals are to understand the interactions between adhesive peptides and surfaces and to use these insights to synthesize and characterize new biocompatible polypeptides having enhanced adhesive and elastic properties. The focus of the work will be on peptides related to the repeating decapeptide that comprises mussel adhesive protein (MAP). The results will be applied to the design of new materials consisting of adhesive and elastic polypeptide sequences. These adhesives are also expected to be biocompatible and stable in vivo, providing a valuable new class of materials for use in medical and bioanalytical applications. %%% This research will provide new insights into the relationships between peptide and protein primary structure; into the chemical interactions governing biopolymer adhesion and folding at surfaces; and in the development of novel biocompatible adhesives with optimized mechanical properties.