Nanowhisker Glue: Ultrasound-Driven Bonds for Medical & Wearable Tech

A group of McGill scientists from various disciplines have created an exceptionally strong, eco-conscious medical adhesive derived from oceanic refuse. This breakthrough shows potential uses in treating wounds, surgical procedures, enhanced medication administration, flexible electronics, and medical prosthetics.

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"The ability to create adhesives that can seal wounds or firmly attach objects to the skin is essential for various medical procedures," stated Audrey Moores, a professor in the Department of Chemistry.

"Numerous current bioadhesive products rely on harmful substances, yet generally, there is a requirement to investigate new materials that exhibit excellent bonding strength along with robust durability against repeated stress," Moores stated.

Moore and co-author Jianyu Li, an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and holder of the Canada Research Chair in Tissue Repair and Regeneration, presented their research in the paper titled "Nanowhisker glues for fatigue-resistant bioadhesion and interfacial functionalization." published in Nature Communications .

Inherently derived nanofibers contribute to the adhesive's durability.

The latest bioadhesive consists of chitosan, which is a chemically altered version of chitin, the organic component present in the outer shells of crustaceans and some types of fungus.

Scientists altered the structure of chitosan into a nano-whisker form—an attribute that was crucial for the bioadhesive’s performance—through a mechanochemical method developed earlier by co-researchers Moores and Edmond Lam in their prior work.

"Through chemical processes, we transform this substance into nanochitosan, which offers various characteristics that we can adjust precisely. With this nano-material, we can create nanoglu." Moores stated.

Ultrasonic waves transform whiskers into interconnected formations Sound waves convert bristles into locking configurations High-frequency vibrations turn hairs into mesh-like patterns Acoustic energy changes fibers into interwoven systems Sonar technology transforms tufts into entangled structures Vibrational forces make strands form cohesive assemblies Echoes shape filaments into mutual binding arrangements Insonation converts fur into structured lattices Sonic stimulation turns whiskers into joined frameworks Wave action makes hair create interlocked networks

Researchers employ a specialized ultrasonic technique created by the Li team to get through the skin. Upon exposure to acoustic waves, the nanostructures not only stick strongly to the skin but also form a sturdy, flexible framework that significantly boosts the adhesive’s power and longevity.

"Picture having a bandage on your hand. It's hard to keep it in place since your hand is constantly moving," Moores described.

To make it adhere properly, the skin must be capable of accepting the adhesive. We employed microneedles or ultrasound for this purpose.

It astonished us to find that ultrasound played an essential role in developing a powerful adhesive. Although our original approach focused on enabling the nanoglue to adhere to the skin, we additionally found that ultrasounds facilitated the creation of a detailed, interwoven structure within our nanostructures. These nanowhisker adhesives significantly surpass existing options.

It is claimed that the nanoscale structure holds potential uses outside of medical fields, across various engineering scenarios.

Allergy-safe, and potentially vegan

The adhesive is also completely compatible with the body, including individuals who have shellfish allergies.

Individuals with shellfish allergies typically react to specific proteins rather than chitin itself. These proteins can be eliminated during production, helping to prevent allergic responses.

"Additionally, we might theoretically create a vegan alternative using mushrooms," Moore remarked.

More information: Shuaibing Jiang and colleagues, Nano-whisker adhesives for durable biological bonding and surface modification, Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-62019-y

Provided by McGill University

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