Gecko + Mussel = Better Bandage?
July 18, 2007 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Health
“Geckel” is a new adhesive material that combines elements of gecko and mussel adhesion: While geckos are notable for being able to move up vertical surfaces and to keep moving upside down, their adhesive ability lessens in water—-which is precisely where mussels show off their sticking power. Geckel is said to function “like a sticky note and exhibit[s] strong yet reversible adhesion in both air and water.” Notes the July 18th Science Daily about research by two Northwestern University biomedical engineers that appears in the July 19th Nature:
“The geckel material should be useful for reversible attachment to a variety of surfaces in any environment,” said Phillip B. Messersmith, professor of biomedical engineering at Northwestern’s McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science and an author of the paper.
“I envision that adhesive tapes made out of geckel could be used to replace sutures for wound closure and may also be useful as a water-resistant adhesive for bandages and drug-delivery patches. Such a bandage would remain firmly attached to the skin during bathing but would permit easy removal upon healing.”
Water-resistant bandages that are easily removed: Might this be the answer to our perennial difficulty getting Charlie to keep a bandaid on over a scratch or cut? Not to mention if he ever has to have stitches…..
Photo courtesy of Duffy B Duffy via Flickr
The link to NATURE didn’t work for me. Is this stuff actually made from some mussel derivative? If so, I wonder at the implications for those w/allergies to such things. If NOT, boy could we really use some of that stuff NOW! Such a material, if it truly works and stays on in water, would make it possible for Nik to swim in the ocean. That is, once he overcomes his fear! LOL. Right now, even w/o the fear, he cannot go in the ocean b/c of possible baterial exposure through his g-tube site. :-p
Thanks, I fixed the link!—–actual mussel derivatives are not used, I think–the researchers are creating
“mussel-mimetic polymers and have studied extensively an amino acid called 3,4-L-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA), which is found in high concentration in the ‘glue’ proteins of mussels.”