Mechanical underwater adhesive devices for soft substrates.

ABSTRACT: Achieving long-term underwater adhesion to dynamic, regenerating soft substrates that undergo extreme fluctuations in pH and moisture remains a major unresolved challenge, with far-reaching implications for healthcare, manufacturing, robotics and marine applications^1-16. Here, inspired by remoras-fish equipped with specialized adhesive discs-we developed the Mechanical Underwater Soft Adhesion System (MUSAS). Through detailed anatomical, behavioural, physical and biomimetic investigations of remora adhesion on soft substrates, we uncovered the key physical principles and evolutionary adaptations underlying their robust attachment. These insights guided the design of MUSAS, which shows extraordinary versatility, adhering securely to a wide range of soft substrates with varying ro

SUBMITTER: Kang Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12310550 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature