Surgical Tape Detaches on Demand

Engineers have developed an adhesive that could quickly and firmly stick to wet surfaces to seal up rips and tears in lungs and intestines within seconds or to affix implants and other medical devices to the surfaces of organs such as the heart. The adhesive has been developed further so that it can be detached from the underlying tissue without causing any damage. By applying a liquid solution, the new version can be peeled away like a slippery gel in case it needs to be adjusted during surgery, for example, or removed once the tissue has healed.