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Underwater mussel-inspired adhesive formed by simple coacervation
Guillaume Gimenez1, Amandine Parron1, Armand Rufino1
1ISM, Univ. Bordeaux, Bordeaux INP, CNRS, UMR 5255, ENSMAC, 16 avenue Pey Berland, 33607 Pessac, France. adeline.perro@u-bordeaux.fr.
Soft Matter
|June 16, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed a bioinspired poly(acrylic acid) system mimicking mussel adhesion. This system transitions from coacervates to a viscoelastic material, demonstrating potential for underwater adhesives.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Adhesion Science
Background:
- Marine mussels exhibit strong underwater adhesion via protein coacervates.
- Natural adhesion involves phase separation and structured fluid formation.
- Understanding mussel adhesion inspires synthetic material design.
Purpose of the Study:
- To create a synthetic system mimicking mussel-inspired underwater adhesion.
- To investigate the role of pH-triggered self-coacervation and phase inversion.
- To evaluate the viscoelastic and adhesive properties of the developed material.
Main Methods:
- Synthesized poly(acrylic acid) functionalized with cationic and hydrophobic groups.
- Induced self-coacervation via pH variation.
- Characterized phase transitions using rheology and tack measurements.
Main Results:
- The system formed dense coacervate droplets that coalesced upon sedimentation.
- A pH-driven phase inversion occurred, forming a continuous polymer-rich phase.
- Significant increases in viscoelasticity and interfacial adhesion were observed.
Conclusions:
- The balance of electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions controls the transition to adhesive viscoelastic material.
- This bioinspired system effectively replicates key features of mussel adhesion.
- The findings offer a promising strategy for developing advanced underwater adhesives.
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