The presence of a hydration layer
in humid and underwater
environments
challenges adhesive–substrate interactions and prevents effective
bonding, which has become a significant obstacle to the development
of adhesives in the industrial and biomedical fields. In this study,
ultrahigh-molecular-weight (UHMW) silk-elastin-like proteins (SELP)
with 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) converted from tyrosine residues
by tyrosinase exhibited excellent adhesive properties on different
interfaces, such as glass, aluminum, wood, polypropylene sheets, and
pigskin, under both dry and wet conditions. Additionally, by incorporating
trace amounts of cross-linking agents like Fe3+, NaIO4, and tris(hydroxymethyl) phosphine (THP), the mussel-inspired
adhesives maintained a stable and excellent adhesion, broadening the
conditions of application. Notably, the UHMW SELP adhesive exhibited
remarkable underwater adhesion properties with a shear strength of
0.83 ± 0.17 MPa on glass. It also demonstrated good adhesion
to biological tissues including the kidney, liver, heart, and lungs.
In vitro cytocompatibility testing using L929 cells showed minimal
toxicity, highlighting its potential application in the biomedical
field. The sustainable, cytocompatible, cost-effective, and highly
efficient adhesive provides valuable insights for the design and development
of a new protein-based underwater adhesive for medical application.