Despite constant technological innovation in human society, nature remains our greatest source of inspiration when facing new challenges. Burdock seeds once gave us the key to making Velcro, and sharks gave us the key to making Velcro. master class For the design of hydrodynamic swimwear, to name a few. Our latest muse is a creature not usually seen as the embodiment of beauty and harmony.we are talking Arion subclause, a simple slug that is a common inhabitant in many European gardens. What was your first problem? In addition to toxicity, the lack of adhesion of conventional adhesives to moist human tissue has suggested the development of more efficient alternatives for wound healing.
A team of Weiss Institute scientists, working with the John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Harvard University, has shown that slugs stay firmly attached to virtually any type of surface when under stressful conditions. I noticed that it releases a very sticky mucus that can. , even when wet.His Dr. Jianyu Li, the original contributor of the article published in chemistry A journal describing the findings recognized that the material excreted by slugs contains a matrix of positively charged proteins that can generate electrostatic attraction to surfaces featuring negatively charged particles. , adhesion is ensured by covalent bonding and physical interpenetration by fluids.
After investigating these properties, they developed a blue hydrogel (darker and thicker). It introduces an unprecedented factor in addition to offering three times the adhesive capacity of his previously used medical ingredients. “A key feature of our material is the combination of very strong adhesive strength and the ability to transmit and distribute stresses that have historically not been integrated into a single adhesive,” said another supporter. author Dave Mooney emphasizes: This property is achieved when the bonds between the calcium atoms and the hydrogel are broken, dissipating energy when the material is under stress and providing greater resistance to torsion.
The resulting bio-adhesive has been successfully tested on various porcine tissues, including skin, cartilage, liver and arteries, both wet and dry. I also used it for blocking. “The glue adheres to the surface within three minutes, but then it gets even stronger. Within 30 minutes, it’s as strong as the body’s own cartilage,” Dr. Lin said. Tests have shown that the adhesive maintains its stability and bond for several weeks. Currently, they are working on a version of the adhesive that uses biodegradable materials, as well as technology to implement mass production.
The adhesive developed by Lin and his team follows in the footsteps of other medical adhesives, such as the one Gecko Biomedical devised inspired by sea worm mucus secretions. This bio-adhesive is currently in testing and could be an alternative to traditional stitching.
biomimicry
Based on slug and worm body fluids, this bio-glue belongs to a field called biomimicry that has led to many discoveries and inventions. It is basically the application of techniques learned from nature under the motto of emulation, not replication, and draws inspiration from its underlying principles. Biomimicry works on many levels, from purely aesthetic or structural approaches to affecting the cellular functions of organisms. For example, Mercedes-Benz took inspiration from fish species. discover Nemo – Design vehicles with optimal aerodynamics.
sauce: BBC, Science, Wyss Institute, Wired
