Exploration of a superior water-resistant protein coating with inherent functionality inspired by scallop byssus

Multifunctional coatings with superior water-resistance are urgently needed for clinical translational research, but few strategies can fabricate such protein coatings in a convenient way, especially under physiological conditions. Herein, we report a protein coating derived from scallop byssal protein 9 (Sbp9^∆) with a superior water-resistant capacity and attractive traits, which was obtained by adapting a previously unexplored coating formation mechanism. We find that the reticulate coatings can be rapidly self-assembled in situ within 30 min after initiation with Ca²⁺. The self-assembly is mainly driven by direct interactions composed of hydrogen and coordinate bonds. Notably, the protein coatings exhibit superior water-resistant stability, mechanical performance similar to that of biological soft tissues, and well biocompatibility. Furthermore, proof-of-concept applications show that Sbp9^∆ coatings can be directly used as cell-culture matrices to promote cell adhesion and spreading, as well as accelerate skin wound healing caused by photoaging and diabetes.