High-Performance Bio-Glue From the Berries of a Parasitic Plant

Gürer U, Reh JT, Röder J, Günsel U, Gunnella C, Schöbel L, Hagn F, Boccaccini AR, Lieleg O (2026)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2026

Journal

Advanced Materials Wiley

DOI: 10.1002/adma.74322

Abstract

Most commercial adhesives are still petroleum-based. Despite extensive efforts to develop sustainable alternatives, bio-based adhesives often require chemical modification of their components, or they fail to achieve rapid, high-performance bonding. Here, we report a fully bio-based adhesive derived primarily from a (poly)saccharide extract obtained from the berries of the hemi-parasitic plant mistletoe (Viscum album). This (poly)saccharide extract is supplemented with tannic and malic acid without any further chemical functionalization. Through a combination of heat-treatment and rapid curing, the developed adhesive exhibits remarkable bonding strength across diverse substrates—including various types of wood and metal, glass, and polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon)—and under various conditions. Furthermore, if samples are separated by force, the remaining adhesive layers can be reactivated via heat-treatment to allow for efficient re-bonding of the adherends. The fully bio-based formulation not only enables multiple repair cycles but also valorizes a parasitic plant, thereby serving as an eco-friendly, high-performance alternative to petroleum-derived adhesives.

Authors with CRIS profile

Jonas Röder Lehrstuhl für Werkstoffwissenschaften (Biomaterialien) Lisa Schöbel Lehrstuhl für Werkstoffwissenschaften (Biomaterialien) Aldo Boccaccini Lehrstuhl für Werkstoffwissenschaften (Biomaterialien)

Involved external institutions

Technische Universität München (TUM) DE Germany (DE) Bayerisches NMR-Zentrum DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Gürer, U., Reh, J.T., Röder, J., Günsel, U., Gunnella, C., Schöbel, L.,... Lieleg, O. (2026). High-Performance Bio-Glue From the Berries of a Parasitic Plant. Advanced Materials. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.74322

MLA:

Gürer, Ufuk, et al. "High-Performance Bio-Glue From the Berries of a Parasitic Plant." Advanced Materials (2026).

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