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Antibacterial Poly(disulfide) Elastomer Featuring High Metal Adhesion and Closed-Loop Recyclability.
Yaqi Tao1,2, Jia Guo1,2, Jin Tian1
1South China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology, School of Emergent Soft Matter, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, P. R. China.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|December 23, 2025
Summary
A new histamine-functionalized elastomer offers strong metal adhesion and self-healing for reusable robotics. This recyclable material also shows excellent antibacterial properties against E. coli and S. aureus.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Developing advanced adhesives for robotics and reusable devices requires materials with high durability, sterility, and recyclability.
- Integrating robust adhesion, energy dissipation, and antibacterial activity into a single, recyclable adhesive presents significant synthetic challenges.
- Existing adhesives often compromise on performance, recyclability, or biocompatibility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a minimalist, recyclable elastomer adhesive with exceptional metal adhesion, energy dissipation, and antibacterial properties.
- To leverage histamine's unique properties for creating a dynamic polymer network.
- To create a versatile material suitable for next-generation robotics and sterile applications.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of a histamine-functionalized lipoic acid (LA-His) elastomer via solvent-free melt polymerization with a polyethylene glycol cross-linker.
- Characterization of the polymer's mechanical properties, including tunable Young's modulus (2.8-194.1 MPa).
- Evaluation of metal adhesion strength, energy dissipation, self-healing capabilities, chemical recyclability, cytotoxicity, and antibacterial efficacy against E. coli and S. aureus.
Main Results:
- The LA-His elastomer demonstrated tunable mechanical properties and exceptional metal adhesion (∼12 MPa), comparable to commercial cyanoacrylates.
- The material exhibited superior energy dissipation and self-healing properties due to reversible disulfide bonds.
- High antibacterial efficacy was achieved, with >99.8% inhibition of E. coli and >99.3% inhibition of S. aureus biofilm formation, alongside low cytotoxicity.
Conclusions:
- A minimalist, histamine-functionalized elastomer (LA-His) successfully integrates strong adhesion, energy dissipation, self-healing, and antibacterial activity.
- The developed polymer offers a sustainable solution with closed-loop chemical recyclability for advanced applications in robotics and medical devices.
- This research paves the way for next-generation materials addressing the complex demands of reusable and sterile robotic systems.
