Abstract
The catechol groups in mussel adhesive proteins exhibit excellent adhesion property to the skin and tissue surfaces. Inspired by catechol groups, the aim of this study is to synthesize the star-shaped polycaprolactone bio-adhesive bearing catechol end-groups (s-PCL19-CA9). Firstly, star-shaped polycaprolactone was synthesized through ring-opening polymerization of caprolactone monomers initiated by β-cyclodextrin, and then the s-PCL19-CA9 was obtained through end-group functionalization using succinic anhydride and dopamine. The structure of s-PCL19-CA9 was characterized by 1H NMR, FTIR, and static light scattering. Adhesive strength measurements demonstrate that the incorporation of multifunctional catechol groups endows the crosslinked s-PCL19-CA9 with an excellent adhesion property (102 ± 10 kPa). The swelling ratio of crosslinked s-PCL19-CA9 is as low as 3.4 ± 0.2% owing to the hydrophobicity of PCL and the crosslinking structures. Besides, the cytotoxicity studies show that s-PCL19-CA9 is noncytotoxic. The TGA measurements indicate that s-PCL19-CA9 possesses a good thermal stability. Therefore, this work provides a new way for developing multifunctional bio-adhesives with excellent adhesion property and low swelling ratio.
Published Version
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