Sustainable Production of Marine Fish Mucus‐Derived Supramolecular Hydrogels for Multifunctional Protective Materials
Mano Govindharaj, Kaliyan Barathikannan, Kandi Sridar, Sai Rama Krishna Meka, Kaumeel Chokshi, Manideep Pabba, Fawzi BanatABSTRACT
Marine fish offer sustainable defense strategies to address the global challenge posed by rising temperatures, which threaten public health, accelerate material degradation, and intensify environmental stress. Through constant interaction with their aquatic environment, fish secrete a natural supramolecular protective mucus hydrogel, rich in gel‐forming glycoproteins (mucins), multiple antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), and ultraviolet‐protective mycosporine‐like amino acids (MAAs). This multifunctional protective system provides integrated physicochemical and biological protection against radiation, pathogens, and environmental material degradation. Inspired by this natural defensive mechanism, the sustainable recovery and engineering of fish mucus‐derived supramolecular hydrogels may provide an advanced sustainable system for the development of biobased technologies. In this framework, the perspective highlights how biomimetic replication of sustainable supramolecular hydrogels can be applied to support human health, mitigate marine environmental degradation, and contribute to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).