Octopus Camouflage Tricks Immune System
Octopuses avoid predators by blending into their surroundings. University of Illinois scientists applied this concept to implant coatings that hide from immune detection. Their hydrogel reduced rejection by 40% in mice with pacemakers. The coating mimics proteins from octopus skin. Clinical trials planned for next year could revolutionize how the body accepts foreign objects. Just as octopuses disguise themselves as coral or rock, these devices disguise themselves as natural tissue.