Researchers develop superglue from mucus

In Germany, an international team of engineers from MIT and the Collaborative Research Center “Dynamic Hydrogels at Biointerfaces,” located at Freie Universität Berlin, has developed a new type of glue that combines the waterproof stickiness of the mussels’ plaques with the germ-proof properties of another natural material: mucus. The new mucus-derived glue prevented the buildup of bacteria while keeping its sticky hold, even on wet surfaces. The researchers envision that once the glue’s properties are optimized, it could be applied as a liquid by injection or spray, which would then solidify into a sticky gel. The material might be used to coat medical implants, for example, to prevent infection and bacteria buildup. The results were published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) at https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2415927122.