The phenomenon of bioadhesion provides inspiration for the design of synthetic adhesives in a variety of applications. These nanoassemblies display unique properties and can serve as multifunctional platforms for various biotechnological applications. Taken together, a class of DOPA-containing self-assembling peptides was designed. The assemblies of FmocвЂ“DOPAвЂ“DOPAвЂ“Lys were capable of gluing together glass surfaces, and their adhesion properties were investigated using atomic force microscopy. In an effort to impart adhesiveness to the obtained assemblies, we incorporated lysine (Lys) into the FmocвЂ“DOPAвЂ“DOPA building block.

Similar redox abilities were observed with the DOPAвЂ“DOPA assemblies. By applying ionic silver to the hydrogel, we observed efficient reduction into silver nanoparticles and the remarkable seamless metallic coating of the assemblies. We studied these assemblies using electron microscopy and explored their applicative potential by examining their ability to spontaneously reduce metal cations into elementary metal. Furthermore, the FmocвЂ“DOPAвЂ“DOPA peptide was found to act as a low molecular weight hydrogelator, forming self-supporting hydrogel which was rheologically characterized. These peptides self-organized into fibrillar nanoassemblies, displaying high density of catechol functional groups. The DOPA-containing DOPAвЂ“DOPA and FmocвЂ“DOPAвЂ“DOPA building blocks were designed by substituting the phenylalanines in the well-studied diphenylalanine self-assembling motif and its 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc)-protected derivative. Here, we harnessed the molecular self-assembly abilities of very short peptide motifs to develop analogous DOPA-containing supramolecular polymers. DOPA-containing bioinspired polymers have a broad functional appeal beyond adhesion due to the diverse chemical interactions presented by the catechol moieties. These properties have inspired the design of adhesive chemical entities through various synthetic approaches. The noncoded aromatic 3,4-dihydroxy- l-phenylalanine (DOPA) amino acid has a pivotal role in the remarkable adhesive properties displayed by marine mussels.

Portal 2 adhesion gel