Porcupine quills inspire new medical innovations

If you’ve known a dog that’s been quilled by a porcupine, then you’ll know that while those quills go in all-too-easily, it’s very difficult to pull them out. As part of a new research project, however, a team of scientists are looking at replicating those very characteristics in things like hypodermic needles and surgical adhesives. It turns out that what’s a bane to overly-inquisitive dogs may be a boon to medical technology.

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Porcupine quills inspire new medical innovations

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Porcupine quills inspire new medical innovations

From nature to additive manufacturing: Biomimicry of porcupine quill - ScienceDirect