Any person that has come across English ivy in their garden knows the plant is difficult to eliminate. Although bothersome in a garden, ivy produces one of the strongest adhesives in nature — and it could have medical applications, according to research from The Ohio State University in Columbus.
"By understanding the proteins that give rise to ivy's strength, we can give rise to approaches to engineer new bio-inspired adhesives for medical and industry products," said Mingjun Zhang, PhD, the biomedical engineering professor who led the research into the plant's uses.
Dr. Zhang, who is a member of Ohio State's Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, believes the protein produced by ivy could be used in wound healing after an injury or surgical procedure.
Image courtesy of Joe Shlabotnik.
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