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Updated: Apr 17, 2026

TAPE: A Biodegradable Hemostatic Glue Inspired by a Ubiquitous Compound in Plants for Surgical Application
Published on: June 8, 2016
A Sustainable Adhesive Paradigm: Reversibly Reinforcing, Heat-Free Bonding with Universal Substrates
Shuang Zhang1, Xin Jing1, Shilong Wu2
1Faculty of Chemistry, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, 130024, China.
A novel nacre-inspired adhesive offers strong, repeatable bonding for diverse materials without heat. This eco-friendly system is recyclable, reusable, and performs exceptionally in extreme cold, supporting zero-waste goals.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Biomimetics
- Sustainable Chemistry
Background:
- Non-biodegradable adhesives cause environmental contamination and hinder recycling.
- Developing sustainable adhesives is crucial for zero-waste initiatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a heat-free, eco-friendly adhesive system inspired by nacre.
- To achieve superior adhesion, recyclability, and performance in extreme conditions.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a nacre-inspired hard-soft multiphase structure.
- Investigation of autonomous network reconstruction and strain-induced orientation.
- Analysis of thermal responsiveness and degradation kinetics.
Main Results:
- The adhesive demonstrated superior adhesion strength on metal, plastic, and glass.
- Achieved up to 120 de-bonding/re-bonding cycles with progressive enhancement.
- Maintained performance in ultra-low temperatures, including liquid nitrogen.
- Tunable degradation kinetics via compositional modulation were confirmed.
Conclusions:
- The nacre-inspired adhesive presents a viable, eco-friendly alternative to conventional adhesives.
- Its properties support applications requiring recyclability, reusability, and extreme temperature tolerance.
- This design advances sustainable materials for reduced environmental impact.
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