Sandcastle worm

In addition to the mussel adhesive proteins, DOPA is found in polychaete sandcastle worm glue secretions, which are in situ forming multiprotein cements deployed during constmction of tube-shaped brick and mortar shelters built from particulates that are available in the sandcastle worm environment. These interesting protein cements have been characterized and have led to the recent emergence of first-generation biomimetic polymer adhesives. 

Figure 10 The sandcastle worm generates its tube by adhering together environmental particulate matter, whether sand or glass beads. Image kindly provided by Professor Russell Stewart, University of Utah.

Biomimetics is an important strategy for the fabrication of modern biomaterials that provides solutions which closely resemble those of living systems. In the area of biomimetic supramolecular chemistry, a surface-grafted PMOEP polymer has recently been found to impart mesoporous silica with switchable ion channel transport properties. This was enabled by the dual protonation and Ca chelation ability of the polymer phosphate groups. A series of studies made use of PMAEP-based copolymers in the fabrication of biomimetic adhesives which were inspired by the sandcastle worm that produces peptide polyelectrolytes rich in phosphorylated serine. These adhesives were aimed at providing molecular solutions to... 

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