Cited by 601Adhesion, Friction, and Surface InteractionsSurface Modification and SuperhydrophobicityAdvanced Materials and Mechanics

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Evidence for self-cleaning in gecko setae

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Hansen, W. R., Autumn, K.·2005·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

DOI 10.1073/pnas.0408304102PMC PMC544316

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Abstract

A tokay gecko can cling to virtually any surface and support its body mass with a single toe by using the millions of keratinous setae on its toe pads. Each seta branches into hundreds of 200-nm spatulae that make intimate contact with a variety of surface profiles. We showed previously that the combined surface area of billions of spatulae maximizes van der Waals interactions to generate large adhesive and shear forces. Geckos are not known to groom their feet yet retain their stickiness for months between molts. How geckos manage to keep their feet clean while walking about with sticky toes has remained a puzzle until now. Although self-cleaning by water droplets occurs in plant and animal surfaces, no adhesive has been shown to self-clean. In the present study, we demonstrate that gecko setae are a self-cleaning adhesive. Geckos with dirty feet recovered their ability to cling to vertical surfaces after only a few steps. Self-cleaning occurred in arrays of setae isolated from the gecko. Contact mechanical models suggest that self-cleaning occurs by an energetic disequilibrium between the adhesive forces attracting a dirt particle to the substrate and those attracting the same particle to one or more spatulae. We propose that the property of self-cleaning is intrinsic to the setal nanostructure and therefore should be replicable in synthetic adhesive materials in the future.

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Authors: Hansen, W. R., & Autumn, K.
Affiliations: Lewis & Clark College (US)
University of California, Santa Barbara (US)
Corresponding author: Autumn, K.
Venue: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Publisher: National Academy of Sciences
Published: 2005-01-03
Volume: 102
Issue: 2
Pages: 385-389
ISSN: 0027-8424 (ISSN-L)
1091-6490
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0408304102
PMC: PMC544316
OpenAlex: W2114147125
Cited by: 601
References: 27
Citations by year: 2026: 12 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 31 · 2021: 26 · 2020: 46 · 2019: 31 · 2018: 30 · 2017: 27 · 2016: 37 · 2015: 33 · 2014: 29 · 2013: 40 · 2012: 42
FWCI: 45.47
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: bronze
doi.org
Locations: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (publishedVersion)
Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders: National Science Foundation (0304730)
Advanced Research Projects Agency
Topics: Physical Sciences › Engineering › Mechanics of Materials › Adhesion, Friction, and Surface Interactions
Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Surfaces, Coatings and Films › Surface Modification and Superhydrophobicity
Physical Sciences › Engineering › Mechanical Engineering › Advanced Materials and Mechanics
Keywords: gecko setae, self-cleaning, van der Waals adhesion, spatulae, Tokay gecko, dry adhesion, contact mechanics, synthetic adhesives
MeSH terms: Adhesiveness, Animals, Lizards, Models, Biological

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Evidence for self-cleaning in gecko setae

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