Fish-inspired adhesive device clings to soft tissues for underwater drug delivery

Fish-inspired adhesive device clings to soft tissues for underwater drug delivery

Inspired by a hitchhiking fish that uses a specialized suction organ to latch onto sharks and other marine animals, researchers from MIT and other institutions have designed a mechanical adhesive device that can attach to soft surfaces underwater or in extreme conditions, and remain there for days or weeks.

Mechanical underwater adhesive devices for soft substrates

Achieving long-term underwater adhesion to dynamic, regenerating soft substrates that undergo extreme fluctuations in pH and moisture remains a major unresolved challenge, with far-reaching implications for healthcare, manufacturing, robotics and marine applications1–16. Here, inspired by remoras—fish equipped with specialized adhesive discs—we developed the Mechanical Underwater Soft Adhesion System (MUSAS). Through detailed anatomical, behavio…

Mechanical Underwater Adhesives for Soft Surfaces

In a groundbreaking advance poised to transform biomedical devices and environmental monitoring, researchers have unveiled a revolutionary underwater adhesive technology designed explicitly for soft, dynamic substrates. This innovative system, termed the MUSAS (Mechanical Underwater Soft Adhesive System), exhibits remarkable adaptability and stability even under extreme and unpredictable environmental conditions. By seamlessly attaching to delic…