Adjacent cationic–aromatic sequences yield strong electrostatic adhesion of hydrogels in seawater

Hailong Fan, Jiahui Wang, Zhen Tao, Junchao Huang, Ping Rao, Takayuki Kurokawa and Jian Ping Gong ()
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Hailong Fan: Hokkaido University
Jiahui Wang: Hokkaido University
Zhen Tao: Hokkaido University
Junchao Huang: Hokkaido University
Ping Rao: Hokkaido University
Takayuki Kurokawa: Hokkaido University
Jian Ping Gong: Hokkaido University

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Electrostatic interaction is strong but usually diminishes in high ionic-strength environments. Biosystems can use this interaction through adjacent cationic–aromatic amino acids sequence of proteins even in a saline medium. Application of such specific sequence to the development of cationic polymer materials adhesive to negatively charged surfaces in saline environments is challenging due to the difficulty in controlling the copolymer sequences. Here, we discover that copolymers with adjacent cation–aromatic sequences can be synthesized through cation–π complex-aided free-radical polymerization. Sequence controlled hydrogels from diverse cation/aromatic monomers exhibit fast, strong but reversible adhesion to negatively charged surfaces in seawater. Aromatics on copolymers are found to enhance the electrostatic interactions of their adjacent cationic residues to the counter surfaces, even in a high ionic-strength medium that screens the electrostatic interaction for common polyelectrolytes. This work opens a pathway to develop adhesives using saline water.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-13171-9

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