Figure 5: SEM images at the surface of a chitosan-keratin-blended gecko skin surface duplicate (S. williamsii) at 2 magnifications for representing the microstructures (the scales and the main region of the spinule) as well as the nanostructures represented by the nanotips and spinule bases.

(A) A low magnification SEM image to show broadly the accurate copying of the gecko skin scales (the microstructure of gecko skin surface); (B) A higher power view of spinules at the top of the scale; (C) Bacteria cell rupture and death on top of chitosan/keratin blend microspinules (white asterix marks the bacteria detritus); (D) a magnified view of long spinules in the ridge seen in panel B; (E) A top-down view of silk fibroin spinules. The silk substrate led to good duplication of spinules in terms of matching structure and morphology. However, a large number coalesced due to the capillary forces on drying and collapsed horizontally onto the surface. Despite this phenomenon, extensive bacteria cell (highlighted) rupturing occurred depositing a large amount of detritus over the spinules, in a week, as observed in (F).