When influence with wet surfaces on biological tissue , such as during surgical process , a wide-eyed bandage just wo n’t stick . After have a spark of inspiration from slug goo , however , scientists now recollect they ’ve acquire the solution .
Researchers from the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University have create a super - strength adhesive textile that is able-bodied to bind to biologic tissues even when wet , without causing toxicity . Their research is publish in this workweek ’s consequence of the journalScience .
Dusky Arion slugs ( Arion subfuscus ) were the muse for this breakthrough . This innocent species of slug , base across Europe , Asia , and portion of the US , release a mucus that is capable to bind to surface . Even if the control surface is coat in urine , the slug is able to remain “ paste ” there , should a predator attempt to pare it off . The scientists on this project search at the holding of this slug goo to reveal how it stick so successfully .
“ Nature has frequently already found elegant solutions to common problems ; it ’s a matter of knowing where to wait and recognizing a serious mind when you see one , " Donald Ingber , founding theatre director of Wyss Institute and Professor of Vascular Biology at Harvard Medical School , said in astatement . “We are excited to see how this technology , exhort by a humble biff , might developintoa new technology for surgical repair and wound healing . "
Just like the slug mucus , their purpose uses three mechanisms : static drawing card to negatively agitate cell surfaces , covalent adherence between neighboring atoms , and physical interpenetration . This young textile is also top with a exceptional matrix that has positively - charged polymers jab out from its surface .
" Most prior material innovation have focused only on the port between the tissue and the adhesive,“added first writer Jianyu Li . " Our adhesive is able to dissipate energy through its intercellular substance layer , which enables it to deform much more before it break . "
data-based mental testing show that the material stuck to dry and wet pig tissue – including skin , gristle , center , artery , and liver – with almost three times greater strength than other aesculapian adhesives . Unlike many current medical adhesives , the fabric can also be formed into usance form .
" This family of tough adhesive material has wide - ranging software , " says co - author Adam Celiz , currently of Imperial College London . " We can make these adhesive material out of biodegradable material , so they decompose once they ’ve help their purpose . We could even combine this technology with flabby robotics to make pasty robot , or with pharmaceuticals to make a new fomite for drug delivery . "
