Mussel muscle: Northwestern
University researchers seek to use for medical purposes the sticky glue produced
by mussels that helps them cling to rocks and other objects.
The idea is
to use the mussel-derived substance on medical implants, helping them to keep in
place within the human body.
In a twist, the researchers are coupling the
mussel glue with a repellant substance. The goal: keep the implant in place
while repelling microbes that promote infection.
If they can produce one
substance that could be used to coat all implants, said Phillip Messersmith, an
assistant professor of biomedical engineering at Northwestern, the product would
be both versatile and cost effective.
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