Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 5, 2026
09:06
Evaluation of the Curing of Adhesive Systems by Rheological and Thermal Testing
Published on: July 3, 2020
Structured adhesives: inspiration, modeling, engineering and applications
Xiaohang Luo1, Di Tan2, Longjian Xue1,3
1School of Power and Mechanical Engineering, Wuhan University, South Donghu Road 8, 430072, Wuhan, China. xuelongjian@whu.edu.cn.
Materials Horizons
|August 3, 2026
Summary
Nature
Area of Science:
- Bioinspired Materials Science
- Adhesion Science
- Biomimetics
Background:
- Organisms utilize diverse structured adhesives for robust, reversible, and adaptive attachment.
- Biological adhesives offer controllable adhesion, residue-free detachment, self-cleaning, and environmental adaptability.
- Hierarchical architectures are key to the superior performance of natural adhesives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and unify principles of biological adhesion for designing next-generation engineered adhesives.
- To link biological archetypes, interfacial mechanics, structural design, and functional integration.
- To explore fabrication technologies and design strategies for enhanced adhesion and adaptability.
Main Methods:
- Review of physical mechanisms and theoretical models of biological adhesion.
- Survey of fabrication technologies and design strategies for structured adhesives.
- Discussion of emerging design paradigms and future opportunities.
Main Results:
- Biological adhesives' success stems from optimized hierarchical structures.
- Engineered adhesives can mimic nature's principles for enhanced performance.
- Emerging designs focus on stress regulation, heterogeneity, programmable reversibility, and sensing.
Conclusions:
- Translating biological adhesion principles into engineered systems is crucial for advanced applications.
- Future bioinspired adhesives will be adaptive, multifunctional, and intelligent.
- Challenges remain in design, manufacturing, and integration for widespread use in robotics, wearables, and biomedicine.
