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Mussels and barnacles attach themselves to surfaces with an exceptionally strong protein compound. It's no surprise, then, that researchers around the world have long studied these proteins as a basis for new adhesives.

Researchers at Aalto University combined DNA fragments from barnacles and mussels found in genetic databases and cloned them into Escherichia coli bacteria, which then produce protein molecules based on the DNA. The result is the world’s best 100% protein-based adhesive—one that works in dry and wet conditions, and even underwater.

Currently, the world consumes an astonishing 19 million tonnes of adhesives annually, most of them made from petroleum-based materials. Adhesives are especially common in construction, textiles, and packaging. A bio-based adhesive could replace some of these, but its real potential lies in new applications where conventional glues fail.

‘Thanks to its water resistance and biocompatibility, this protein adhesive could be used to repair coral reefs—or one day even heal major tissue injuries, potentially saving human lives,’ says doctoral researcher Helena Aspelin.