journal article·2026-07-09Open access

A Disulfide‐Sticker Strategy for Marine Adhesive Coatings: From Deciphering Self‐Assembly Mechanism to Functional Application in Hair Regeneration

Lulu Wang, Juan Yang, Xin Jiang, Zhanghui Zheng, Hongyu Wei, Na Li, Xiangqiang Chu, Weizhi Liu

Abstract

ABSTRACT Marine adhesive organisms commonly employ epidermal growth factor (EGF)‐like domains for wet attachment, yet the molecular mechanisms guiding their self‐assembly remain elusive. Here, we report a disulfide‑sticker strategy in the recombinant scallop adhesive protein Sbp9 Δ . Dynamic disulfide bonds, acting synergistically with Ca 2+ coordination, orchestrate the multiscale hierarchical self‐assembly of Sbp9 Δ by modulating its conformational heterogeneity. Spectroscopic and scattering analyses reveal that disulfide formation acts as a covalent sticker, rigidifying Sbp9 Δ into β‐sheet‐rich rod‐like nanostructures, which direct orderly aggregation into extensive two‐dimensional networks. The resulting coating exhibits robust wet adhesion across diverse substrates, accompanied by intrinsic antioxidant activity. As a proof of concept, the biocompatible Sbp9 Δ coating markedly promotes hair regeneration by enhancing angiogenesis, stimulating follicular cell proliferation, and effectively scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS), exhibiting superior efficacy compared with minoxidil. In a mouse model of androgenetic alopecia, the Sbp9 Δ coating activates the follicular niche through the upregulation of Wnt signaling and the downregulation of calcium signaling, leading to robust hair follicle activation. By integrating insights from marine biology, biophysics, and materials science, this work elucidates a disulfide‐mediated assembly paradigm in marine adhesives and translates it into a functional strategy for hair regeneration.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Hair Growth and Disorders · Skin and Cellular Biology Research · Polymer Surface Interaction Studies

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Fang Zongxi Center for Marine Evo‐Devo, MoE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences Ocean University of China Qingdao China

Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology Qingdao National Laboratory For Marine Science and Technology Qingdao China

Department of Physics City University of Hong Kong Hong Kong China

Shenzhen Research Institute City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen China

Neutron Science Platform Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory Dongguan China

National Facility for Protein Science Shanghai Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Shanghai China

Funding

Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities · National Natural Science Foundation of China · China Postdoctoral Science Foundation · City University of Hong Kong

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