Gooey greatness

To test this idea, he combined solutions of natural mucin proteins with synthetic mussel-­inspired polymers and observed how the resulting mixture solidified and stuck to surfaces over time. “It’s like a two-part epoxy. You combine two liquids together, and chemistry starts to occur so that the liquid solidifies while the substance is simultaneously gluing itself to the surface,” Degen says. The resulting gel strongly adheres even to wet surfaces while preventing the buildup of bacteria. The researchers envision that it could be injected or sprayed as a liquid, which would soon turn into a sticky gel. The material might coat medical implants, for example, to help prevent infection. The approach could also be adapted to incorporate other natural materials such as keratin, which might be used in sustainable packaging materials. ... Read full article.