Structure Formation in Barnacle Adhesive

Theoretical Colloid Approach to Structure Formation in Barnacle Adhesive... 

The process of structure formation of barnacle adhesive can be further discussed in the light of a biocoUoidal system The characteristics of biocolloids are based on the principle of self-organization [47]. 

It may be conceivable that the structure formation of barnacle adhesive is determined by critical self-assembly concentrations of the adhesive proteins within an interfacial gap between a barnacle base and a substrate. It can further be suggested that the biopolymers form coherent gel structures, in which two transitions of critical protein concentrations determine the arrangement of adhesive globules from a dense sheet-like formation to a slightly loose sponge-like formation to a very loose branched or web-like structure. 

The consideration outlined above agrees with the assumption that substrates influence the structure formation of barnacle adhesive indirectly via properties that hold the barnacle base at a distance from the surface (e.g., fiber coatings, thick biofilm layers) or cause large interfacial gaps (e.g., PDMS coatings). These factors affect the concentration in the dispersion, and hence the position on the adsorption isotherm as compared to the micellar or hemi-micellar concentration, by impinging on the interfacial volume that needs to be filled with adhesive. 

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