Metzler and her team found that the oyster glue is so sticky because it combines the aragonite with special proteins that the oyster produces. This information could pave the way for the development of better synthetic, “green” glues that mimic the properties of the oyster’s adhesive.
“Because I'm looking at this biological tissue, I need a certain energy range, and the Canadian Light Source has that sweet spot of having both the microscope and the energy range,” says Metzler. “You can look at your sample, get the spectral data that you need to be able to answer questions about what is this made up of, and how these things are structured.”
Her team discovered that the oyster glue is made up of tiny particles of aragonite that clump together into crystals of random shapes, sizes and orientation, information, says Metzler, that can be used to create synthetic versions in a lab. This research, which also relied on data gathered at the Advanced Light Source (ALS) synchrotron, is published in the journal Advanced Materials Interfaces.
What they’ve learned could have multiple applications, Metzler says. Glues synthesized from the oyster’s adhesive could be used to bind dental implants, replace glues currently used in the packaging industry with bio-degradable alternatives, or even build structures underwater.
Metzler’s research may also prove critical for the ecological conservation of Etheria elliptica oysters. With freshwater mussel populations declining globally, understanding how these organisms create underwater reefs is key to preserving habitats that ensure the oysters’ survival in a warming climate, as well as informing local populations about sustainable oyster harvesting.
Because the oysters used in Metzler’s study were collected years ago, a next step will be investigating the impact of climate change on more recent samples.
“Whether there's been a change similar to what we're seeing in other organisms, that would be another thing we'd be interested in trying to figure out.”
Freshwater oysters key to developing stronger, "greener" adhesives
Freshwater oysters key to developing stronger, “greener” adhesives. Video Credit: Canadian Light Source