DFG Research Grant: Mussel-Adhesion Derived Polymerization: From Tyrosinase Activated Polymerization Towards Multifunctional Polymers

Research objective of the proposal is the introduction of a novel class of macromonomers, which provides the possibility to exhibit a polymerization after being enzymatically activated. As a result of the enzyme activated polymerization, segmented copolymers with multifunctional character will be obtained. The polymerization process is derived from the fundamental cross-linking principle occurring in mussel adhesion processes. Similar chemistry that leads during byssus formation of marine mussels to cross-links between mussel foot proteins should be employed to generate linear polymers with repetitive monomer sequences.