The first biodegradable version of velcro has been created, drawing inspiration from climbing plants, to safeguard the environment (VIDEO)
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The research group coordinated by Barbara Mazzolai at the IIT – Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia has created the first ever prototype of a soft, biodegradable and soluble velcro inspired by the micro-hook structure of leaves on the “catchweed” plant (Galium aparine), for use in devices for the monitoring and safeguarding of the environment and in precision farming. The research, published in the international journal Communications Materials, shows how the artificial micro-hooks can be applied to a series of devices that, when attached to plant leaves, act as a kind of temporary plaster, releasing beneficial substances into the plant’s vascular system, or as intelligent clips that wirelessly communicate information on the health status of crop plants.
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IIT-Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia
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