Peptide from Vibrio cholerae biofilms glues wet surfaces and flocculates microspheres in lab tests
Researchers characterized a biofilm-derived peptide that adsorbs onto various surfaces and glues wet ones. It was also purified from E. coli in a functional form.
A research team reported in Science Advances a peptide derived from biofilms formed by the pathogen Vibrio cholerae as a candidate for underwater adhesion. Most molecular designs for wet adhesives so far have been inspired by marine animals such as mussels and barnacles. The authors propose bacterial biofilms as an alternative source of inspiration science.org
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The authors characterized how the peptide adsorbs onto various surfaces and glues wet surfaces together. They used confocal microscopy, molecular dynamics simulations, atomic force microscopy, lap shear tests and spectroscopic tools. The peptide also co-aggregated with microspheres, acting as an effective flocculant.
The team also purified the peptide from E. coli in a functional form, which, according to the authors, sets the stage for large-scale production. The work is a laboratory characterization of the peptide. The authors state that the results open new design possibilities for underwater adhesives inspired by natural biofilms.
