[Extraction and application of Perna viridis foot protein as bioadhesive]

Mussel adhesive proteins have attracted increasing interests for their potential use as environmentally friendly bioadhesives in medicine and aqueous conditions. In this study, surface coating analysis, quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), cell and bone tissue adhesion and cytotoxicity assay were used to study the properties of the Perna viridis foot proteins (Pvfp) extract as bioadhesive. The results of coating ability on various materials and QCM analysis revealed that Pvfp extract has comparable or superior adsorbtion ability to that of Cell-Tak (the naturally extracted MAP mixture from Mytilus edulis, and has been commercialized), and also, the cell adhesion ability of Pvfp extract was stronger than that of Cell-Tak and poly-L-lysine. No cytotoxicity was detected using human HeLa and 293T cells. Furthermore, broken bones of mouse could be stuck together by use of Pvfp extract. In bulk-scale adhesion tests, Pvfp extract showed much greater tensile strength than did fibrin glue for conglutinating poly (vinl chloride) sticks and for binding together pig's femur segments. These results suggested that Pvfp extract be an efficient cell and tissue adhesive in biotechnological application and it might be a potential bioadhesive in medical practice.