The present and future of biologically inspired adhesive interfaces and materials

The natural world provides many examples of robust, permanent adhesive platforms. Synthetic adhesive interfaces and materials inspired by mussels of genus Mytulis have been extensively applied, and it is expected that characterization and adaptation of several other biological adhesive strategies will follow the Mytilus edulis model. These candidate species will be introduced, along with a discussion of the adhesive behaviors that make them attractive for synthetic adaptation. While significant progress has been made in the development of biologically inspired adhesive interfaces and materials, persistent questions, current challenges, and emergent areas of research will be also be discussed.