Mussel-Inspired Underwater Adhesives- from Adhesion Mechanisms to Engineering Applications: A Critical Review

Abstract

Recent progress in the adhesion mechanism of mussels has led to great excitement in the field of adhesive materials. Although great progress has been made in the mussel adhesion mechanism and underwater adhesives, there are still many unknowns and challenges in this area. Thus, it is highly important to review the recent progress in mechanisms of mussel adhesion and mussel-inspired adhesives and predict trends for the future. In this review, we (1) summarize the research progress in fundamental interaction mechanisms in natural mussels; (2) discuss the application of the mussel interaction mechanism in the biomimetic mussel adhesive materials, from permanent/high-strength adhesives to temporary/smart adhesives; (3) briefly state the potential applications of the mussel-inspired adhesives in multiple fields, such as engineering applications, smart robotics and biomedicine; (4) summarize the future perspectives and unsolved challenges of mussel adhesion mechanisms and mussel-inspired adhesive materials. We envision that this review will provide an insightful perspective in understanding the mussel adhesion mechanism and directions to further explore, and promote the development of novel biomimetic mussel adhesive materials.