Mussel-inspired ‘glue’ for surgical repair and cancer drug delivery

When it comes to sticking power under wet conditions, marine mussels are hard to beat. Northwestern University’s Phillip Messersmith has created new materials that mimic mussel adhesive proteins for three medical applications: sealants for fetal membrane repair, self-setting antibacterial hydrogels, and polymers for cancer drug delivery and thermal destruction of cancer cells. All of his materials contain a synthetic form of the catecholic amino acid DOPA (dihydroxyphenylalanine), one of the key…

Fuente : http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-02/nu-…