The wings of cicadas are capable of self-cleaning. That is they can kill and remove any bacteria that comes into contact with them. Now researchers have developed a material that can do just that.
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00:00The wings of these insects, cicadas, are capable of self-cleaning.
00:07That is to say, they can kill and remove any bacteria that comes into contact with them.
00:11But how?
00:12Well, they are covered in what can only be described as millions of microscopic flat-tipped spikes.
00:17And now experts say they are getting closer to understanding how they work.
00:20And it could be a boon for medical science.
00:23Researchers developed a material that has a very similar shape to the microstructures found on cicada wings.
00:28Finding that when they recreated the surface structures that were 10 nanometers tall, 50 nanometers wide, and 70 nanometers apart.
00:35Not only would E. coli bacteria die on contact, but the dead bacteria was shed from the structures, leaving no trace.
00:41With the researchers saying about it, quote,
00:43It's known that sometimes when bacteria cells die and they absorb onto surfaces,
00:47their debris will stay on the surface and therefore make it a better environment for their brethren to come in and absorb on top of them.
00:53They say this is a huge advancement as this is the primary way a lot of biomedical materials fail.
00:58Because there's nothing that addresses debris that's left behind and harbors more bacteria.
01:02The tiny pillars work to destroy bacteria because the cells attempt to attach to the surface.
01:06However, the pillar width and depth tug at the bacteria's membrane, causing it to rupture.
01:11After it ruptures, the texture of the surface continues to pull at the membrane until tension builds and the bacteria detaches.
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