Self-Cleaning Silicone Gel Could Open New Possibilities for Medical Diagnostics

The surfaces of many insect wings have unique properties that have long interested materials scientists. Some insect wings, for example, are superhydrophobic, which is the combined result of their chemistry and the detailed nanoscale structures on their surface. Other insect wings have the unique ability to reduce the effects of friction, so that any tiny dust particles that would stick to many surfaces are repelled with minimal force.

Gregory Watson of the James Cook University, working with colleagues there and at Griffith University, and the universities of Queensland and Oxford, are hoping to mimic the properties of insect wings, using them as a template for polymeric materials that have novel surface characteristics such as self-cleaning silicone gels or superhydrophobic plastics.

The researchers hope to develop self-cleaning, water-resistant and friction-free coatings for a range of applications including nano- and micro-electromechanical systems and lab-on-a-chip devices for medical diagnostics.

More information on the research is available from Science Centric.

Tags: Griffith University, insect wings, James Cook University, Oxford University, Queensland University, superhydrophobic