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A skin crawling treatment for acne?

A team of scientists at McGill University has invented a smart device for personalized skin care inspired by the male diving beetle. The device collects and monitors body fluids while sticking to the skin's surface, paving the way for more accurate diagnostics and treatment for skin diseases like acne.

SourceMcGill University·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 31, 2021

Improving strength, stretchiness and adhesion in hydrogels for wound healing

Researchers from Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation develop methods to enhance mechanical properties of hydrogels, including toughness, stretchiness, and adhesive strength. By introducing dopamine and alkaline conditions, they create gel-like materials with improved biocompatibility and regenerative capabilities.

SourceTerasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 30, 2021

SUTD researchers develop liquid metal antenna that can conform to soft biological tissues

SUTD researchers developed a liquid metal antenna that can conform to soft biological tissues, addressing the mechanical mismatch at the tissue-device interface. The antenna demonstrated high wireless powering efficiency and stability under extreme deformations, making it suitable for implantable devices in hard-to-reach lesions.

SourceSingapore University of Technology and Design·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateAug 20, 2021

Controlling adhesions in the abdomen

Adhesions form after inflammation or surgery and can lead to chronic pain, digestive problems, infertility, and life-threatening consequences. Researchers have discovered that macrophages play a key role in their development and have developed a new imaging system to visualize them.

SourceUniversity of Bern·JournalScience·DateMar 5, 2021

Review on functional hydrogel coatings

Functional hydrogel coatings have various functions, including sensing, actuation, drug delivery, and conductivity for neural electrodes. Research directions include optimizing coating methods for mass production, long-term stability, and testing adhesion.

SourceScience China Press·JournalNational Science Review·DateDec 22, 2020

The secret of strong underwater mussel adhesion revealed

Researchers at POSTECH have discovered the key to strong underwater mussel adhesion, finding that Dopa and Lysine molecules work together in a synergistic effect. Their study used molecular biology techniques to analyze adhesive proteins in mussels and confirmed two molecules with strong adhesion even in underwater conditions.

SourcePohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH)·JournalJournal of Colloid and Interface Science·DateJan 22, 2020

A close look at a sticky situation

New research published in PNAS finds the missing link between soft surface adhesion and the roughness of the hard surface it touches. The study reveals that small-scale roughness can create more surface area for soft materials to grip, explaining predicted adhesion behavior.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 2, 2019

Journal of Dental Research Centennial July 2019: Fluoride Revolution and Dental Caries

The article highlights the impact of fluoride on reducing dental caries, citing studies that showed a marked reduction in caries experience in fluoridated cities compared to non-fluoridated control cities. The widespread use of fluoride toothpaste has also been credited with improving oral health and quality of life for populations wor...

Penn engineers demonstrate superstrong, reversible adhesive that works like snail slime

The Penn team created an adhesive that mimics the snail's epiphragm, allowing for strong adhesion and easy reversibility. The breakthrough was achieved using a polymer called PHEMA, which conforms to small grooves on surfaces when wet, making it stick, and hardens into those cavities when dry, securing itself firmly.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 17, 2019

Solving a sticky problem

Tevis Jacobs will study individual nanoparticles using electron microscopy to understand atomic-scale relationships between adhesion and coarsening. The award enables the development of new methods for measuring nanoparticle attachment and stability on surfaces.

Research details sticky situations at the nanoscale

Researchers detail sticky situations at the nanoscale, finding that miniscule differences in surface roughness can cause significant changes in adhesion. Their theory predicts an increase in interface toughness as roughness increases, with potential applications in micro-electro-mechanical systems and nanoscale patterning.

SourceBrown University·JournalScientific Reports·DateFeb 7, 2019

Groundbreaking new reusable adhesive works underwater

Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a new reusable adhesive that activates quickly and maintains strong adhesion underwater. The shape memory polymers (SMPs) can be manipulated to transition between two states, allowing for reversible dry adhesion and enabling applications such as wet or submerged wall mounting.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering·JournalAdvanced Materials Interfaces·DateJan 28, 2019

Inspired by feet

A research team from Kiel University has developed a method to boost the adhesive effect of silicone materials by combining surface structuring with plasma treatment. They found that surfaces with a mushroom-like microstructure exhibit significantly improved adhesion, even when bent to varying degrees. This breakthrough could enable ne...

SourceKiel University·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·DateAug 31, 2018

A sticky situation

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have developed a new approach to reduce adhesion in small parts, which is expected to improve next-generation microdevices. The study uses nanomaterials to create rough surfaces that prevent tiny objects from sticking together.

Algae with light switch

Researchers discovered that Chlamydomonas algae can control its adhesion to surfaces using blue light, a phenomenon that could improve the efficiency of biofuels production. By understanding this mechanism, scientists hope to develop algae strains with modified photoreceptors that don't form biofilms on glass walls.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature Physics·DateSep 29, 2017

Despite a great grip, geckos sometimes slip

Researchers found that geckos don't always have enough adhesive ability to save themselves, especially when encountering unexpected falls. The study's results could lead to a better understanding of how geckos stick to surfaces and potentially inspire new technologies.

SourceCornell University·JournalInterface·DateJul 19, 2017