Washington, March 02: Like silkworm moths, butterflies and spiders, caddisfly larvae spin silk, but they do so underwater. Now scientists are trying to make a wet adhesive out of it to close wounds.
University of Utah (U-U) researchers have discovered why the fly’s silk is sticky when wet and how that may make it valuable as an adhesive tape during surgery.
“Silk from caddisfly larvae — known to western fly fishermen as ‘rock rollers’ — may be useful some day as a medical bioadhesive for sticking to wet tissues,” says Russell Stewart, U-U associate professor of bioengineering.
“I picture it as sort of a wet Band-Aid, maybe used internally in surgery — like using a piece of tape to close an incision as opposed to sutures,” he adds.
“Gluing things together underwater is not easy. Have you ever tried to put a Band-Aid on in the shower? This insect has been doing this for 150 million to 200 million years,” Stewart adds.
—–IANS