The nature of the gecko lizard adhesive force.
The extraordinary climbing skills of gecko lizards have been under investigation for a long time. Here we report results of direct measurement of single spatula forces in air with varying relative humidities and in water, by the force-distance method using an atomic force microscope. We have found that the presence of water strongly affects the adhesion force and from analysis of our results, we have demonstrated that the dominant force involved is the capillary force.
Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, Singapore.
Wanxin
W
Sun
Pavel
P
Neuzil
Tanu Suryadi
TS
Kustandi
Sharon
S
Oh
Victor D
VD
Samper
D000268:Adhesiveness; D000818:Animals; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004817:Epidermis / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005528:Foot / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D008116:Lizards / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D008124:Locomotion / Q000502:physiology*; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force / Q000379:methods; D008954:Models, Biological; D013314:Stress, Mechanical