Sticky solution for surgery takes inspiration from slug slime

Slug, Dusky Arion, Arion subfuscus

Source: © Doug Lemke / Shutterstock

Adhesive held strong on a beating rat heart and glued a liver back together

Slug slime has inspired a family of tough adhesives that stick strongly even to slippery biological tissue. The sticky flexible gel consists of two layers, a design inspired by mucus secreted by a land slug, ‘dusky arion’ (Arion subfuscus).