Engineered Protein-Cellulose Composite Hydrogels with Superior Mechanical Performance for Bioadhesion

Strong underwater-setting adhesives hold transformative potential for tissue repair, yet achieving a combination of high adhesive strength, toughness, energy dissipation, and biocompatibility remains a critical challenge. To address this, we engineered a protein–cellulose composite hydrogel composed of microbially-produced hybrid proteins that incorporate silk, amyloid, and mussel foot protein (SAM) domains with polydopamine (PDA)-functionalized cellulose nanocrystals (CNC^PDA). The PDA coating enables robust interfacial interactions between the CNC nanofillers and the SAM protein matrix, dramatically enhancing mechanical performance. Hydrogels containing 10% CNC^PDA achieved a tensile strength of 4.9 ± 0.9 MPa, strain of 770% ± 33%, toughness of 17 MJ/m³, and damping energy of 202 ± 35 kJ/m³—representing 4.7-, 2-, 3.6-, and ninefold increases, respectively, compared to the unreinforced SAM hydrogel. Pre-stretching further aligned CNC^PDA nanofillers within the matrix, enabling tunable enhancement in tensile modulus and ultimate strength. Critically, the composite hydrogels demonstrated strong adhesion to biological tissues, with adhesive strengths of 0.88 ± 0.25 MPa on porcine skin and 1.1 ± 0.3 MPa on bovine bone, far exceeding clinical thresholds for mechanical-demanding tissue adhesives, while maintaining biocompatibility. This synergistic integration of programmable protein design and functionalized nanomaterials provides a versatile platform for next-generation bioadhesives, addressing key unmet needs in bone repair and regenerative medicine.