Hyperbranched Biorefinery Molecule-Regulated Switchable Adhesion and Noninvasive Healing

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biotechnology
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Switchable adhesives are crucial for flexible electronics, soft robotics, and tissue repair.
• Developing bio-based switchable adhesives for biomedical use is challenging due to the trade-off between high strength and adhesion span.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create a bio-based switchable adhesive for biomedical applications using a dynamic chemical modification strategy.
• To address challenges in biomass utilization and improve adhesive performance.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a switchable adhesive using biorefinery-derived hyperbranched nanoconfinement.
• Utilizing microbial fermentation to produce hyperbranched biorefinery molecules with nanostructures.
• Employing dynamic chemical modification for high-density dynamic bond formation.

Main Results:

• The hyperbranched nanoconfinement facilitated energy dissipation and stress redistribution.
• Achieved simultaneously excellent adhesive strength and switchable adhesion.
• The wound bioadhesive demonstrated a wide switching span (296 to 17 N/m) and high stability.

Conclusions:

• The developed switchable wound bioadhesive achieved a 94.80% wound closure rate, significantly outperforming the control (76.07%).
• This work highlights the potential of biorefinery molecules in bio-based adhesives for biomedical innovation.
• The strategy offers a promising solution for advanced adhesion in the biomedical field.