Scientists reveal using sound, bubbles make bandages stickier, durable

Aug 16, 2022

New Delhi, Aug 16 (ANI): Researchers have discovered that using ultrasound waves and bubbles, they can control the stickiness of adhesive bandages. This discovery could pave the way for new advances in medical adhesives, particularly in situations where adhesives are difficult to apply, such as on wet skin. The findings of the research were published in the journal 'Science'. “Bandages, glues, and stickers are common bioadhesives that are used at home or in clinics. However, they don't usually adhere well to wet skin. It's also challenging to control where they are applied and the strength and duration of the formed adhesion,” said McGill University Professor Jianyu Li, who led the research team of engineers, physicists, chemists, and clinicians. Their study, published in the journal Science, shows that the adhesives are compatible with living tissue in rats. The adhesives can also potentially be used to deliver drugs through the skin. “This paradigm-shifting technology will have great implications in many branches of medicine,” said University of British Columbia Professor Zu-Hua Gao. “We're very excited to translate this technology for applications in clinics for tissue repair, cancer therapy, and precision medicine.”