Nanometer-Thick Hyaluronic Acid Self-Assemblies with Strong Adhesive Properties

• DOI: 10.1021/acsami.5b03760
• Publication Date: 2015-07-07T14:23:40Z
• Authors: Andrew Marais; Samuel Pendergraph; Lars Wågberg
• Keywords: Coated Materials, Biocompatible; Surface Properties; Adhesives; Materials Testing; Polyamines; 02 engineering and technology; Hyaluronic Acid; 0210 nano-technology; Nanostructures

The adhesive characteristics of poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH)/hyaluronic acid (HA) self-assemblies were investigated using contact adhesion testing. Poly(dimethylsiloxane) spheres and silicon wafers were coated with layer-by-layer (LbL) assemblies of PAH/HA. No increase in adhesion was observed when surfaces covered with dried LbL films were placed in contact. However, bringing the coated surfaces in contact while wet and separating them after drying resulted in an increase by a factor of 100 in the work of adhesion (from one to three bilayers). Herein we discuss the adhesion in PAH/HA and PAH/poly(acrylic acid) assemblies. PAH/HA assemblies have potential application as strong biomedical adhesives.