From Northwestern Now:
Those who have tried to pry a mussel from wood or rock know how stubborn the underwater mollusk is. Its gluey secret has long captivated scientists. For years, researchers have attempted to replicate the extraordinary adhesive and its properties in the lab, targeting some of the eight proteins mussels secrete and use to attach to surfaces.
Now, using a novel method to arrange molecules, researchers at Northwestern University have created a material that performs even better than the glue they were trying to mimic. Their findings expand on how these protein-like polymers can be used as a platform to create new materials and therapeutics.
Read the rest of the article here: Mussels’ underwater glue inspires synthetic cement – Northwestern Now