Sticky Subject

Sealing wounds can be a sticky subject, and so the search is on to find new materials to do the job. For adhesive inspiration, where better to look than to the gecko – a reptile that can hang from the ceiling with a single finger. Geckos' feet bristle with millions of tiny projections, each one creating an attractive pull towards a surface. Although tiny, these attractions add up – leading to a force that can support up to 40 kilograms. By inventing a flexible tape (pictured) that mimics the spiny surface of gecko foot pads, scientists may bring this impressive sticking power to the operating table. And the results are promising. The material not only holds tissue firmly together, but it’s also biodegradable (dark patches show decay) – an essential trait for internal applications. This approach could spell the end of traditional stitches using needle and thread.

Written by Jan Piotrowski

Jan Piotrowski

Writer

A recent Imperial College graduate with a Masters in Science Communication, Jan now works as a freelance science communicator. His interests focus on neuroscience, psychology and the environment.

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• Jeffrey Karp
• Harvard Medical School, USA
• Published in PNAS 105(7): 2307-2312