SYNTHETIC BIOADHESIVE POLYPEPTIDE

摘要

This invention pertains to a synthetic adhesive composition for use in aqueo us environments. The composition comprises polypeptide chains having an .alpha.-helical structure in aqueous environmen ts and capable of cohesive and adhesive interactions. The polypeptide chains comprise polar and apolar amino acids, the apolar and pol ar amino acids being arranged to define apolar and polar vertical spiraling stripes on the helix surface. The apolar strips allow the polypeptide chains to aggregate into superhelical structures and the polar stripes allow interchain crosslinking within and between the superhelical structures.