Novelglue
A bio-adhesive modeled on mussels
A bio-adhesive inspired by the mussel foot proteins that let a mussel anchor itself to rock. It adheres well in demanding conditions, such as under water or inside the body, and we are developing it for medical devices, tissue engineering and industrial use.
Bio
Fully Biocompatible
Biocompatible and non-toxic
Wet
Wet Adhesion
Strong adhesion under water and in wet conditions
Med
Medical Grade Target
Aiming for medical-device grade
A new bio-adhesive inspired by marine life
The discovery of the DOPA amino acid
Mussel foot proteins (Mfp) contain large amounts of an unusual amino acid, DOPA (3,4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine). It is DOPA that makes strong adhesion to wet surfaces possible.
Bio-inspired synthesis
Taking the natural Mfp structure as a reference, we design and synthesise analogous proteins using bioinformatics and biochemical methods, and have established a scalable production process using expression systems such as E. coli.
The surface-binding mechanism
DOPA binds firmly to a wide range of substrate surfaces (metals, ceramics, organics and living tissue) through coordination bonds, hydrogen bonds and π-π interactions. Because it displaces water molecules from the surface as it bonds, performance holds up in wet conditions.
Biocompatibility and degradability
Protein-based materials are degraded enzymatically in the body and leave no toxic by-products. Our aim is to replace chemical adhesives in medical uses such as absorbable sutures, wound closure and tissue bonding.
Where it is heading
Novelglue takes a single protein technology into several applications.
Cell Culture
Cell culture coating
for regenerative medicine
A xeno-free, high-performance coating. The FP121 protein supports the adhesion and proliferation of iPS cells and suspension cells.
Surgical Adhesive
Surgical adhesive
bone and dental fields
Adhesive strength of 63 kPa in wet conditions, more than ten times that of fibrin glue. We are developing it as a surgical material that promotes bone regeneration.
Coming Soon
DDS / drug placement
A system for local drug placement and sustained release that draws on the adhesive properties. Currently in R&D.
Where development stands
Note: we are currently looking for joint research partners and investors. Please get in touch for details.
The evidence behind it
Novelglue takes its inspiration from the DOPA-mediated (3,4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine) adhesion mechanism in mussel foot proteins (Mfp). Wet adhesion through DOPA, catechol chemistry and multi-point binding to metals and organics are established in the peer-reviewed work below.
References
- Lee H., Dellatore S.M., Miller W.M., Messersmith P.B. Mussel-Inspired Surface Chemistry for Multifunctional Coatings. Science, 2007, 318(5849), 426–430. DOI →
- Waite J.H. Mussel adhesion — essential footwork. Journal of Experimental Biology, 2017, 220(4), 517–530. DOI →
- Maier G.P., Rapp M.V., Waite J.H., Israelachvili J.N., Butler A. Adaptive synergy between catechol and lysine promotes wet adhesion by surface salt displacement. Science, 2015, 349(6248), 628–632. DOI →
- Lee B.P., Messersmith P.B., Israelachvili J.N., Waite J.H. Mussel-Inspired Adhesives and Coatings. Annual Review of Materials Research, 2011, 41, 99–132. DOI →
- Yu J., Wei W., Danner E., Ashley R.K., Israelachvili J.N., Waite J.H. Mussel protein adhesion depends on interprotein thiol-mediated redox modulation. Nature Chemical Biology, 2011, 7(9), 588–590. DOI →
- Kawakami Y., et al. Development of the FP121 series: Hybrid proteins mimicking marine adhesive proteins with cell adhesion and proliferation activity. Materials & Design, 2025. ScienceDirect →
Joint research and technology licensing
Please get in touch about detailed technical materials, samples or joint research on Novelglue.
Contact us →