Synthesis and Environmental Application of Dopamine: Poly-gamma-Glutamate Supragels

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24655209
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Polymer/Textile materials
• Research Institution: Kochi University
• Principal Investigator: ASHIUCHI Makoto 高知大学, 教育研究部総合科学系, 教授 (20271091)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 環境材料 / 環境技術 / 環境機能 / バイオポリアミド / 化学改質 / 超分子ゲル / 金属吸着

Outline of Final Research Achievements

It is well known that the enriched catechol residues are found in mussel’s byssus showing a high adherent ability in water. We hence tried to replace the hexadecylpyridinium　moieties of a stoichiometric poly-gamma-glutamate ion-complex (PGAIC) with dopamine molecules and succeeded in developing dopamine:PGA supragels at room temperature without risky chemicals/expensive catalysts. This new material was tentatively called dopamyl PGA (dmPGA). The rheological research implied that dmPGA possesses potential as self-healing gels. Furthermore, the metal adsorption tests indicated that the capabilities (particularly for divalent cations) of dmPGA, along with a hyperbolic curve, are much superior to PGA and polyacrylate, suggesting its potential application for the effective (simultaneous) removal of various toxic metals.

Free Research Field

生物材料化学