Influence of topography on adhesion and bioadhesion

Abstract

Nature, through evolution, has developed many different structured adhesive systems to create strong and reliable adhesion on various substrates, including those with rough or smooth surfaces under dry and wet conditions. However, the details of the adhesive interactions of structured or roughened surfaces are just beginning to be resolved. This chapter examines the physical principles of dry and wet adhesion of structured surfaces from simple to complex geometries. A particular emphasis is placed on bioadhesive systems that achieve an impressive level of control over adhesion via fascinating structural features such as fibrils and spines. The influence of surface morphology and roughness on adhesion is also covered. Recent studies show that the attachment abilities of bioadhesive systems are dramatically reduced below a critical roughness. Based on this and other principles borrowed from nature, strategies can be pursued to create anti-adhesive surfaces via manipulating the surface topography of the substrate.