Gecko Toes Inspire Design of New Medical Bandage
Nanoscale features molded into the surface of the adhesive bandage help it bond extremely well. Similar features on the feet of geckos allow the lizards to walk on walls and ceilings. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences hide caption
The pads on the toes of a gecko are coated with microscopic hills and valleys, which help the lizards to cling to difficult-to-climb surfaces. With this in mind, researchers have created a sticky, strong, biodegradable surgical adhesive bandage that could be used in a variety of medical applications.
Jeffrey Karp, one of the authors of the paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, talks with guest host Joe Palca about taking design tips from lizards.