Elucidating the Chemical Mechanisms for Adhesion: Towards New Biopolymeric Adhesives

该奖项由化学、材料研究和分子与细胞生物学部门颁发，隶属于材料合成与加工计划。本研究的主要目标是了解生物分子在凝聚相界面上的构象和表面相互作用，以及生物粘附的化学机制。具体目标是了解粘附肽和表面之间的相互作用，并利用这些见解来合成和表征具有增强粘附和弹性性能的新型生物相容性多肽。工作的重点将是与包含贻贝粘附蛋白（MAP）的重复十肽相关的肽。该结果将应用于由粘接和弹性多肽序列组成的新材料的设计。这些粘合剂还有望具有生物相容性和体内稳定性，为医学和生物分析应用提供有价值的新型材料。这项研究将为研究肽和蛋白质一级结构之间的关系提供新的见解；研究控制生物聚合物表面粘附和折叠的化学相互作用；在开发具有优化力学性能的新型生物相容性胶粘剂方面。

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.