Shark Skin

November 10, 2009

YOU MAY HAVE A FEAR OF SHARKS, BUT THE SKIN OF THE OCEAN’S MOST NOTORIOUS PREDATOR MAY HELP SAVE YOU FROM DEADLY BACTERIA. RESEARCHERS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA RECENTLY DISCOVERED THAT ALGAE FOLLOWS EVERYTHING IN THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT, EXCEPT THE SHARK. THIS DISCOVERY LED TO THE WORLD’S FIRST SURFACE PATTERN INSPIRED BY SHARK SKIN.

Dr. Anthony Brennan/Professor of Materials Science and Engineering: “So all of a sudden people are starting to buy into this concept that there is something there as to what we can learn from that shark and how we can extend it to other areas and other organisms to make an effective green, anti-following surface.”

THE FILM PREVENTS DANGEROUS MICROORGANISMS SUCH AS E. COLI FROM GROWING LARGE ENOUGH TO EFFECT HUMANS. RESEARCHERS SAY THIS COULD PROVE ESPECIALLY USEFUL FOR HOSPITALS WHERE SUPERBACTERIAS LIKE MRSA ARE RESISTANT TO OTHER ANTI-BACTERIAL CLEANING SUPPLIES.

Dr. Anthony Brennan/Professor of Materials Science and Engineering: “So our concept is to bring something forward that doesn’t kill but it inhibits or makes it unlikely that they are going to culture on that surface and that’s really what we’re excited about.”

ASIDE FROM BEING USED IN HOSPITALS, RESEARCHERS HOPE TO STICK THE SKIN ON DOOR HANDLES TO PUBLIC RESTROOMS, OFFICE PHONES AND OTHER HIGH TRAFFIC SURFACES.