Geckel

Geckel is a super-sticky adhesive that can attach to both wet and dry surfaces. The adhesive's strength "comes from coating fibrous silicone, similar in structure to a gecko's foot, with a polymer that mimics the 'glue' used by mussels." [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6904175.stm BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Gecko glue exploits mussel power ] ]

Inspiration for the Adhesive

The team drew the inspiration for the adhesive from Geckos, which can support hundreds of times their own body weight. Geckos are able to do this because of billions of hair-like structures, known as setae. Researchers combined this ability with the sticking power of mussels. The material is reusable, as tests have shown that "the material could be stuck and unstuck more than 1,000 times, even when used under water", retaining 85 percent of their adhesive strength. [ [http://www.livescience.com/technology/070718_gecko_mussels.html Move Over Elmer's: New 'Geckel' Glue Redefines Sticky | LiveScience ] ]

Medical Applications

Professor Phillip Messersmith from Northwestern University in Chicago, the lead researcher on the team that developed the product, believes that the adhesive could have many medical applications. For example, tapes that could replace sutures to close a wound and a water resistant adhesive for bandages and drug-delivery patches. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6904175.stm BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Gecko glue exploits mussel power ] ]

References