When Peter Benchley released the book “Jaws” in 1974, he made sharks Public Enemy #1. Millions of people stayed out of the oceans—or at the water’s edge. But, as it turns out, this much-feared fish had gotten a bad rap. They weren’t out hunting people for lunch after all. And now, it seems sharks—or at least a part of their anatomy—can be a valuable asset to the medical world. Why?

As the Biomimicry Institute has stated in the past, shark skin has some amazing qualities. While many other water species—and even ships—accumulate biofouling as they move through the water, sharks don’t. In fact, even bacteria can’t adhere to their skin. This resistance comes not so much from the chemical makeup of their skin as its pattern.

UF startup Sharklet — its Sharklet Foley catheter and Sharkskin wound dressing — are featured in this article.

Tony Brennan, founder, chairman of the board, and chief technology officer, and Christopher Jones, director of research and development at Sharklet Technologies, explained how the technology works and how their discovery is keeping people safe and free of bacteria and viruses.

In related news

They are one of the great threats to our health, but scientists prepare a response, inspired by nature, that can combat them.

Researchers are developing synthetic versions of shark skin to be used in hospitals. The objective? Reduce bacterial infections .