QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE STUDY OF SPINY STARFISH (MARTHASTERJAS GLACIALIS) FOOTPRINTS USING ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPY

摘要

Starfish footprints are proteinaceous adhesive secretions produced by the individual tube feet of the animal and left behind on a surface after detachment. Strong, but temporary adhesion is essential for this benthic invertebrate to withstand shear forces caused by water currents in its marine environment, and for successful feeding and defence against predators. The biological adhesive of starfish footprints adheres well to a wide variety of substrates, showing better affinity for high energy than for low energy surfaces, and greater adhesion on rough than smooth surfaces via increased contact area. Their high performance in an aqueous environment has commercial potential, particularly for biomedical applications.