Synthesis and characterization of catechol-containing biomimetic mucoadhesive polymers

Mucoadhesive property is the major function as an adhesive for medical devices, and therefore, these days many researches have conducted to develop polymers having this property. Recently, biomimetic technology has been used for developing mucoadhesive polymers. Among many technologies, mussel-inspired approaches have received noticeable attention because of its thread's strong adhesive characteristics. In this study, we synthesized mucoadhesive biomimetic polymers employing catechol structures which are abundant in mussel adhesive proteins, and their structures and molecular weights were characterized by using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography. To evaluate in vitro mucoadhesive strength, the sheet type of the small intestinal porcine submucosa was prepared. Compared to commercial fibrin glue adhesives, catechol-containing mucoadhesive polymers showed enhanced adhesive strength. The study of adhesive strength with considering diverse factors, such as temperature, pressure, and oxidant amount indicated that mussel-inspired mucoadhesive polymer could be a promising candidate for an adhesive in various biomedical applications.