Insect Wings Could Hold the Key to Antibiotic Surfaces

Nature holds incredible mysteries. For all technology has done for us, not even our greatest of innovations can hold a candle to the awe of the natural world. Now it turns out that the structure of an insect wing may hold the key to an incredible breakthrough. 

Researchers have found a natural, chemical-free antibiotic surface on one of the most unexpected of places: insect wings. And they're prepared to make the most of it.

The Nanopillar, Nature’s Antibiotic Surface Design

Modern science has granted us numerous important antibiotics, but with these medications comes antibiotic resistance, which can put us all at increased risk of superbugs. This has led some researchers to look in new directions for keeping our world pathogen-free. Now, studies on the natural antibiotic properties of some insects’ wings may have provided a much-needed breakthrough.

Scientists have found microscopic structures on the wings of dragonflies, cicadas and other insects, which they believe work as antimicrobial barriers. According to a study recently released in Nature, the process is purely structural: Microscopic “nanopillars” cover the wings in a grid formation, making the surfaces rough and difficult for pathogens to attach to. Yet the wings appear smooth.

Microbes that do land become stretched and torn by the microscopic structures. Imagine trying to toss a fried egg onto a bed of nails—you’d be left with a bit of a mess. Nothing can grow on these surfaces because nothing can adhere to them without sustaining serious damage.

Replicating the Antibiotic Structure

Researchers are currently working to produce synthetic versions of nanopillars on various surfaces. A paper recently published by the American Chemical Society details one of their newest efforts. The researchers found that a design staggering shorter and longer nanopillars could protect surfaces against dangerous strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli (staph and e.coli).

But that could be just the beginning. This new surface and other bio-inspired advances could change the way we approach antibiotics in the future, which may reduce the need for chemical interventions. This, in turn, could help to slow the progression of antibiotic-resistant disease.

Nature holds untold secrets. All this time, scientists have been searching for new ways to keep microbes at bay, while all along, the missing puzzle pieces may have been sitting right there on a dragonfly wing. Who knows what's next. But it's exciting to think about the possibilities.

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