Tick 'cement' as a potential bioadhesive for human tissue
Monday, February 20, 2017 - 14:31
in Health & Medicine
Ticks are well known for their ability to anchor themselves firmly to the skin, so that they can suck blood for several days. This anchoring mechanism is so effective because it is based on a cement-like substance with excellent adhesive properties, so that it works like a dowel for the mouthparts of the tick. Researchers want to study this "tick cement" and recreate it chemically for use in biomaterial research.