Scientists Have Created a Material Which Mimics Cicada Wings That Can Kill Bacteria

Amaze Lab

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.

00:12But how?

00:13Well, they are covered in what can only be described as millions of microscopic flat-tipped

00:16spikes.

00:17And now experts say they are getting closer to understanding how they work, and it could

00:21be a boon for medical science.

00:23Researchers developed a material that has a very similar shape to the microstructures

00:27found on cicada wings, finding that when they recreated the surface structures that

00:31were 10 nanometers tall, 50 nanometers wide, and 70 nanometers apart, not only would E.

00:36coli bacteria die on contact, but the dead bacteria was shed from the structures, leaving

00:41no trace, with the researchers saying about it, quote, it's known that sometimes when

00:45bacteria cells die and they absorb onto surfaces, their debris will stay on the surface and

00:49therefore make it a better environment for their brethren to come in and absorb on top

00:53of them.

00:54Scientists say this is a huge advancement, as this is the primary way a lot of biomedical

00:57materials fail, because there's nothing that addresses debris that's left behind and harbors

01:02more bacteria.

01:03The tiny pillars work to destroy bacteria because the cells attempt to attach to the

01:06surface.

01:07However, 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

01:15builds and the bacteria detaches.

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