WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) — A Purdue University chemist is developing an adhesive that can work underwater.
Professor Jonathan Wilker has spent the last 15 years developing hundreds of adhesives. The adhesives are made of materials similar to those used by oysters and mussels.
Initial studies from the materials suggest that these adhesives are not toxic. Wilker said the way they can mimick the materials made by these animals gives them endless possibilities.
“How neat would it be if you could actually have some major impact on new ways to manufacture cars and planes, or new ways to attach tissue back together in a much less traumatic way than what we do now,” Wilker explained.
He said an adhesive that works underwater could change how medical surgeries are performed.
“Right now, we’ll use screws, sutures and staples — this is really damaging. You poke holes in healthy tissue, you drill out healthy bone,” Wilker said. “We would be a lot better off if we could actually glue the tissue back together. But one of the problems, it’s inside the body. It’s wet.”
The materials are still in the research phase. Wilker said they would need to start a small business, or get help from an outside party, before turning the materials into a product.
《Purdue chemist developing underwater adhesive》：
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) — A Purdue University chemist is developing an adhesive that can work underwater.
Professor Jonathan Wilker has spent the last 15 years developing hundreds of adhesives. The adhesives are made of materials similar to those used by oysters and mussels.
Initial studies from the materials suggest that these adhesives are not toxic. Wilker said the way they can mimick the materials made by these animals gives them endless possibilities.
“How neat would it be if you could actually have some major impact on new ways to manufacture cars and planes, or new ways to attach tissue back together in a much less traumatic way than what we do now,” Wilker explained.
He said an adhesive that works underwater could change how medical surgeries are performed.
“Right now, we’ll use screws, sutures and staples — this is really damaging. You poke holes in healthy tissue, you drill out healthy bone,” Wilker said. “We would be a lot better off if we could actually glue the tissue back together. But one of the problems, it’s inside the body. It’s wet.”
The materials are still in the research phase. Wilker said they would need to start a small business, or get help from an outside party, before turning the materials into a product.