Synergistic Functional Group Interactions for Stable Interfacial Adhesion: Insights from Amyloid-inspired Polymers

Jin-Wei Bai; Wei Liu; Bin Wen; Zhong-Li Lei; Chen Li; Hao Ren; Peng Yang

doi:10.1007/s10118-025-3304-z

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Synergistic Functional Group Interactions for Stable Interfacial Adhesion: Insights from Amyloid-inspired Polymers

RESEARCH ARTICLE | Updated：2025-07-15

- Synergistic Functional Group Interactions for Stable Interfacial Adhesion: Insights from Amyloid-inspired Polymers
- Chinese Journal of Polymer Science Vol. 43, Issue 7, Pages: 1096-1104(2025)
- Affiliations：
  
  a.Key Laboratory of Applied Surface and Colloid Chemistry, Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, China
  b.Frontiers Science Center for Flexible Electronics (FSCFE) & Institute of Flexible Electronics (SIFE), Northwestern Polytechnical University (NPU), Xi’an 710072, China
  c.School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Eastern HuaLan Avenue, Xinxiang 453003, China
  d.Xi’an Key Laboratory of Polymeric Soft Matter, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, China
  e.International Joint Research Center on Functional Fiber and Soft Smart Textile, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, China
- Author bio：
  
  renhao@snnu.edu.cn (H.R.)
  yangpeng@snnu.edu.cn (P.Y.)
- Funds：
- DOI：10.1007/s10118-025-3304-z
  CLC：
- Received：30 November 2024，
  
  Revised：2024-12-23，
  
  Accepted：27 December 2024，
  
  Online First：13 March 2025，
  
  Published：01 July 2025
- Accepted：
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Bai, J. W.; Liu, W.; Wen, B.; Lei, Z. L.; Li, C.; Ren, H.; Yang, P. Synergistic functional group interactions for stable interfacial adhesion: insights from amyloid-inspired polymers. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 2025, 43, 1096–1104

Jin-Wei Bai, Wei Liu, Bin Wen, et al. Synergistic Functional Group Interactions for Stable Interfacial Adhesion: Insights from Amyloid-inspired Polymers[J]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2025, 43(7): 1096-1104.
Bai, J. W.; Liu, W.; Wen, B.; Lei, Z. L.; Li, C.; Ren, H.; Yang, P. Synergistic functional group interactions for stable interfacial adhesion: insights from amyloid-inspired polymers. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 2025, 43, 1096–1104 DOI： 10.1007/s10118-025-3304-z.

Jin-Wei Bai, Wei Liu, Bin Wen, et al. Synergistic Functional Group Interactions for Stable Interfacial Adhesion: Insights from Amyloid-inspired Polymers[J]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2025, 43(7): 1096-1104. DOI： 10.1007/s10118-025-3304-z.

摘要

Different functional residues are significant to the interfacial adhesion of amyloid-like proteins. We synthesized homopolymers and random copolymers with phenyl

amino

carboxyl

and hydroxyl functional groups to mimic protein adhesion. Results highlight that the synergistic effects of multiple functional groups are crucial for achieving universal interfacial adhesion of macromolecules.

Abstract

Amyloid-like proteins are critical for interfacial adhesion across various marine organisms and bacteria. However

the specific contributions of different functional residues remain unclear. Herein

we introduce an approach to deconstruct and mimic these residues using synthetic homopolymers and random copolymers with phenyl

amino

carboxyl

and hydroxyl functional groups using reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The resulting polymers

designed with comparable molecular weights (

: 10–20 kDa) and narrow dispersities (PDI

1.3)

mimic the diverse surface chemistry of amyloid-like proteins

enabling systematic investigation of their adhesive properties. The interfacial adhesion forces of different polymer films were quantified using atomic force microscopy (AFM) with a colloidal probe. Remarkably

copolymers

with multiple functional groups demonstrated significantly enhanced adhesion compared to homopolymers

a trend corroborated by macroscopic shear strength and stability tests. These results highlight that the synergistic effects of multiple functional groups are crucial for achieving universal interfacial adhesion of macromolecules

offering insights into protein adhesion mechanisms

and guiding polymer-based interfacial modifications.

关键词

Keywords

references

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