Freshwater Oysters Hold the Key to Stronger, Greener Adhesives

A discovery made by an international research team regarding the unique adhesive qualities of freshwater oysters could revolutionise the development of environmentally friendly glues.

The research team responsible for the discovery used the Canadian Light Source (CLS) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) to determine the composition of the adhesive produced by Etheria elliptica oysters.

These oysters, which thrive in African rivers and lakes, create complex underwater reefs by sticking to wood or other oysters. The special material they produce is composed of a mineral called aragonite.

The oysters arrange the adhesive in such a way that it is soft on the outside, and progressively harder on the inside. This unique structure, combined with special proteins produced by the oyster, results in an exceptionally effective glue substance.

“These oyster shells aren't exactly like our teeth and our bones, but there are a lot of similarities,” said professor of physics at Colgate University, Rebecca Metzler. “And so, if the adhesive can work for the oyster shell, maybe it could work pretty well for what's happening inside of us”.

Metzler and her team at Colgate University discovered that the oyster glue’s stickiness is a combination of the aragonite and special proteins the oyster produces. Using advanced imaging techniques at the CLS and the Advanced Light Source (ALS) synchrotron, the team were able to analyse the composition and structure of the adhesive.

They discovered that the tiny particles of aragonite clump together into crystals of random shapes, sizes, and orientations, providing valuable information for recreating synthetic versions in the lab.

“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,” said Metzler. “You can look at your sample, get the spectral data that you need to be able to answer questions about what this is made up of, and how these things are structured”.

With freshwater mussel populations declining globally, Metzler’s research also aims to prove a critical benefit to the ecological conservation of Etheria elliptica. Understanding how these organisms create underwater reefs is key to preserving habitats, ensuring the oysters’ survival in a warming climate.

Metzler’s next steps will be investigating the impact of climate change on 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,” added Metzler.

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