| Research Abstract |
1.Exploring New marine Adhesive Protein and its Molecular Structure
The adhesive protein of the green mussel Perna viridis was firstly purified. The molecular structure of the Perna viridis foot protein-1 (Pvfp-1) was characterized as a novel glycosylated protein. The other proteins, Pvfp-2, -3, -4, -5, -6, -7, -and -8 were also found as the byssus precursor protein, and some of them functions as the adhesives to male durable marine holdfast.
2.Reinforced Fiber material Inspired from the Byssoginous System of the Matrine Mussel
The molecular mechanism involved in the byssogenous system of the marine mussels inspires the mew technology for creating a hybrid material in aqueous media. In a series of our studies to create the biomimetic hybrid fibers, capsules, hydrogels, and adhesives, we focused on the quinone-coupling chemistry, which occurs along with the byssus formation. The novel polysaccharide and poly (amino acid) derivatives were designed and synthesized. They have the grafted peptide side chan as the enzyme-mediated cross-linker, allowing the mechanical reinforcement of the hybrid materials.
3.Dynamic Wettability of the Adhesive Proteins and Related Polymeric Compounds
To discuss the surface adsorption of the marine adhesive protein, the dynamic contact angle measurement is very informative due to its accessibility to the wetting phenomenon in real-time. Also, the direct measurement of the wetting forces afford the amount of the protein adsorption along with the wetting process.
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