China 
Africa 
Explore chapters and articles related to this topic
Nanotemplated Materials for Advanced Drug Delivery Systems
Published in Sanjay V. Malhotra, B. L. V. Prasad, Jordi Fraxedas, Molecular Materials, 2017
Erica Schlesinger, Daniel A. Bernards, Rachel Gamson, Tejal A. Desai
Gecko-inspired materials are based on the strong adhesive properties inherent to gecko feet, which allow them to climb walls and hang from ceilings. Gecko feet have many micro- and nanoscale angled fibers (Figure 12.4). This micro- and nanotopography contributes to greater van der Waals forces through large numbers of surface contact points (Murphy et al., 2009). Depending on the design, these surfaces can improve both wet and dry adhesion, making them relevant to both transdermal drug delivery in the form of adhesive patches, mucosal delivery for improved mucoadhesion, and wound healing. Gecko-inspired materials employ micro- and nanopillars as fibrillar structures to mimic the “hairs” on a gecko’s foot. With advanced fabrication techniques, these features can range from a single array to multilevel hierarchical structures (Murphy et al., 2009).
Introduction to Nanotechnology
Published in Wesley C. Sanders, Basic Principles of Nanotechnology, 2018
Geckos can climb and run on wet, dry, smooth, or rough surfaces with extremely high maneuverability and efficiency. Gecko feet (Figure 1.4a) contain compliant micro- and nanoscale beta-keratin structures, known as foot-hairs, which allow geckos to adhere to any surface. This adhesion is driven by molecular forces acting between the foot-hairs and the surface (Autumn et al. 2002; Autumn, Niewiarowski and Puthoff 2014). Foot-hairs contain micrometer-scale stalks with caps at their end—referred to as spatulae, which have diameters that are approximately 300–500 nm in diameter (Figure 1.4b) (Sitti and Fearing 2003).
Nanomedicine: Scientific Basis and Societal Implications
Published in Harry F. Tibbals, Medical Nanotechnology and Nanomedicine, 2017
Other examples are the photonic properties of butterfly wings, feathers, and iridescent beetles and flies created by photon resonance effects dependent on the nanostructure rather than the material or chemical pigmentation. A particularly dramatic effect is the ability of gecko feet to adhere to smooth surfaces, which was shown to be due to the nanostructure of the finest details of the foot, without the aid of sticky glues, suction cups, or micromechanical hooks or grappling devices.
Wearable electronic textiles
Published in Textile Progress, 2019
David Tyler, Jane Wood, Tasneem Sabir, Chloe McDonnell, Abu Sadat Muhammad Sayem, Nick Whittaker
The gecko’s amazing ability to climb different surfaces, attach, and detach their feet within milliseconds has fascinated scientists around the world. Geckos do not intentionally stick to surfaces but are only attached by their feet. Gecko feet do not stick to dirt or particles, and as a result this keeps them clean and they require no pressure to stick to surfaces. Many scientists have studied gecko feet, and their research has led to the finding that gecko pads use intermolecular interactions to stick to surfaces. Through sophisticated scanning technology, tiny velvety hairs known as setae (finer than human hair) were discovered. The hair and the surface become charged leading to geckos sticking to surfaces. Traditional pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes require force to apply, degrade quickly, collect particles and tend to stick where they are not required, so they are now being replaced with tapes, which have been inspired by gecko feet into adhesive tape. Geckskin™ was revealed to the world in February 2012, where studies into Gecko toepads led to the adhesion and creation of a novel technology, as seen in Figure 15.