Engineering adhesive proteins enhanced by self-assembling peptide and enzyme cross-linking

Conventional adhesives efficiently work on dry surfaces but fail in the presence of water. Currently, there is a great need for adhesives in surgical procedures and underwater construction. Nature gives a hint on how to develop wet adhesives. Mussels survive harsh underwater conditions by secreting an adhesive which attaches to different surfaces. However, natural extraction was found uneconomical. Recombinant engineering approach is a promising alternative method for large-scale adhesive production. Unfortunately, recombinant adhesives face drawbacks such as low performance. This thesis aims to address these drawbacks by designing and synthesising recombinant adhesives, developing a bioproduction, and evaluating their performance.