Biomechanism of adhesion in gecko setae  

作　　者：GUO Ce SUN JiuRong GE YingBin WANG WenBo WANG DaPeng DAI-ZhenDong 

机构地区：[1]Institute of Bio-inspired Structure and Surface Engineering,Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics,Nanjing 210016,China [2]School of Life Science,Peking University,Beijing 100873,China [3]School of Basic Medical Sciences,Nanjing Medical University,Nanjing 210029,China [4]Institute of Intelligent Machines,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Hefei 230031,China

出　　处：《Science China(Life Sciences)》2012年第2期181-187,共7页中国科学（生命科学英文版）

基　　金：supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2011CB302106);the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 30770285, 51175249, 61175105 and 51105201);the Jiangsu Natural Science Foundation (Grant No. BK2009376)

摘　　要：The study of the adhesion of millions of setae on the toes of geckos has been advanced in recent years with the emergence of new technology and measurement methods. The theory of the mechanism of adhesion by van der Waals forces is now accepted and broadly understood. However, this paper presents limitations of this theory and gives a new hypothesis of the biomechanism of gecko adhesion. The findings are obtained through measurements of the magnitude of the adhesion of setae under three different conditions, to show the close relationship between adhesion and status of the setae. They are reinforced by demonstrating two setal structures, follicle cells and hair, the former making the setae capable of producing bioelectrical charges, which play an important role in attachment and detachment processes. It is shown that the abundant muscular tissues at the base of the setae cells, which are controlled by peripheral nerves, are instrumental in producing the foot movement involved in attachment and detachment. Our study will further uncover the adhesion mechanism of geckos, and provide new ideas for designing and fabricating synthetic setae.The study of the adhesion of millions of setae on the toes of geckos has been advanced in recent years with the emergence of new technology and measurement methods. The theory of the mechanism of adhesion by van der Waals forces is now accepted and broadly understood. However, this paper presents limitations of this theory and gives a new hypothesis of the biomechanism of gecko adhesion. The findings are obtained through measurements of the magnitude of the adhesion of setae under three different conditions, to show the close relationship between adhesion and status of the setae. They are reinforced by demonstrating two setal structures, follicle cells and hair, the former making the setae capable of producing bioelectrical charges, which play an important role in attachment and detachment processes. It is shown that the abundant muscular tissues at the base of the setae cells, which are controlled by peripheral nerves, are instrumental in producing the foot movement involved in attachment and detachment. Our study will further uncover the adhesion mechanism of geckos, and provide new ideas for designing and fabricating synthetic setae.

关 键 词：gecko setae ADHESION biomechanism MICROSTRUCTURE BIONICS 

分 类 号：Q66[生物学—生物物理学] TS101.923[轻工技术与工程—纺织工程]