While studying bacteria to understand the basics of how cells work, microbiologist and geneticist Yves Brun, Ph.D., of Indiana University in Bloomington found a natural form of "superglue" in the bacterium Caulobacter crescentus. This glue consists of a sugary substance that does not dissolve in water. The bacteria uses the substance to attach to water pipes and rocks in freshwater streams. Brun performed a test to investigate the bacteria's strength. He allowed the bacteria to attach to a tiny glass tube, then measured the force required to rip them off, using a special microscope equipped with a probe.
Brun's findings reveal that the bacterial glue is several times stronger than commercial dental adhesive or even superglue, with an adhesive force of nearly 5 tons per square inch. This makes it the strongest biological adhesive ever measured. Brun's studies suggest that the glue works in water and can attach to just about any type of surface. These characteristics make the substance an ideal candidate for a surgical adhesive, says Brun, who is now working to understand more about the properties of the natural glue.
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