Imagine if you could attach something to your skin without needing glue. A biosensor, a watch, a communications device, a fashion accessory — the possibilities are endless. Thanks to a discovery, that time could be closer than you think.

Associate Professor Guy German and Zachary Lipsky, PhD ’21, recently published research in the journal Acta Biomaterialia that explores how human skin can control the way cracks form and why tensometers offer imprecise results when measuring the mechanical properties of biological tissues.

Along the way, Lipsky developed a method to bond human skin to rubber-like polymeric materials without an adhesive. Originally a way to make their experiments easier, he and German understood they had made a significant discovery.

«Zach came in one day and said, ‘Yeah, I did it,’» German said. «I was like, ‘How on Earth did you do that? Did you use a glue?’ Because we’d need to account for the mechanical properties of the glue as well. And he said, ‘No, I just stuck it.’ We looked and said: Has this ever been done before? Never been done. So we’re really happy on that front.»

An invention disclosure for the technique has been filed, which could lead to a patent on what he calls «a very simple technique» that could revolutionize biotech.

«I didn’t know we’d end up there, but that’s sometimes how science works,» German said with a laugh.

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Materials provided by Binghamton University. Original written by Chris Kocher. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.