A new super-strong plastic that heals itself -- inspired by squid teeth -- has been developed.
As part of the research, published in Scientific Reports, engineers from the University of Pennsylvania studied cephalopods' uniquely strong ring teeth, which are able to heal themselves when submerged in water.
After testing teeth samples from a number of squid species, the scientists managed to unlock the genetic code that enables the tentacle-bound teeth to heal when broken. As a result, they were then able to artificially engineer the necessary proteins in a lab, turning them into a rubbery plastic using solvent.
To test the material's self-healing strength, it was then cut in half and put back together with a drop of water. After pressing the pieces together at a temperature of 113 degrees Fahrenheit, the plastic fused together again -- and remained just as strong and durable as before it was cut.
It's hoped that in the future the plastic will be able to be used as a protective coating for deep-sea cables, or even help to create biomedical devices. However, it will be some time before we see this self-healing plastic in action: the team are still testing to find out if the constant presence of water could actually interfere with, and even weaken, the healing process.
But if the technology is a success, the researchers plan to study how it could be used for human applications, such as helping to heal wounds.