Introduction
Over the past 10 years, the Thormann group at DTU Chemistry has built extensive expertise and lab facilities focused on skin studies, skin models, skin adhesives, and skin sensing technologies. Our labs are specifically equipped for peel and tack tests, electrochemical analysis methods for sensing, and a range of techniques for material and surface characterization. Additionally, we have expertise in constructing skin-mimicking models that simulate sweat and moisture release, which serve as essential tools for advancing adhesive technologies in wet and dynamic environments. Recently, we have expanded our research to include bio-inspired wet adhesion and tissue adhesion, with particular relevance to applications in gastrointestinal surgery.
The knowledge and the lab facilities support both fundamental research projects and collaborative efforts with industrial partners, often in the context of successful bachelor, master, and PhD projects. The mutual interest in fundamental material development and the growing need for bio-inspired adhesives for challenging applications - such as skin adhesives and tissue adhesives for gastrointestinal surgeries - have inspired the creation of a platform for innovative research, collaboration, and new student activities. This initiative has garnered significant interest from DTU students and the support of the Aage and Johanne Louis-Hansen Foundation, leading to the establishment of SkinHub in June 2024.