A research team led by Professors Hyung Joon Cha (POSTECH) and Kang-Il Song (Pukyong National University) has successfully developed a conductive bioglue that ensures both firm adhesion and stable electrical signaling within the human body. Inspired by the way mussels cling to underwater rocks, this new biomaterial is expected to revolutionize muscle and nerve regeneration as well as the stability of implantable medical devices.

The body's internal environment, much like the ocean, is filled with blood and interstitial fluids, making it extremely difficult for materials to remain attached. This has been a major hurdle in connecting damaged tissues or attaching bioelectronic devices, such as pacemakers and brain stimulators, to organs. Conventional adhesives often exhibit weak bonding in wet environments and poor electrical conductivity, making it difficult to achieve long-term monitoring and treatment.

To overcome these challenges, the team developed a liquid protein-based adhesive that is immiscible (does not mix with water) and highly conductive. They integrated an electro-crosslinking technology that enables the adhesive to solidify into a gel within seconds upon receiving an electrical stimulus, securing it precisely at the target site.

The efficacy of this innovation was clearly demonstrated in diverse experimental settings. In tissue-to-tissue interface tests, the adhesive successfully restored interrupted electrical signals between nerves and muscles in severed tissue, promoting regeneration and immediate recovery of motor functions without the need for additional sutures.

Furthermore, in tissue-to-device interface experiments, the adhesive enabled medical devices to be securely affixed to organ surfaces without sutures or toxic chemical adhesives. This integration significantly reduced electrical resistance between the organ and the device, enabling stable, long-term, high-precision monitoring of biological signals.

"This research presents a new biomaterial technology that goes beyond simple adhesion to provide stable signal transmission even in the body’s harsh environment," said Professor Hyung Joon Cha of POSTECH. "It will contribute significantly to rehabilitation and healthcare, serving as a key adhesive material for next-generation implantable bioelectronics and nerve regeneration therapies."

This study, conducted by the research team, including Mr. Hyun Tack Woo and Dr. Jinyoung Yun from POSTECH, was recently published online in Biomaterials, a leading international journal in the field of biomaterials. The research was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF).

Mussel Adhesion Meets Conductivity: New Bioglue for Bioelectronic Implants