English ivy has a natural glue whose proteins may help wound healing product developers, according to new research.

Scientists at The Ohio State University said they’ve pinpointed spherical particles within English ivy’s adhesive and identified the primary protein. The discovery includes finding a calcium-mediated interaction between the proteins and pectin in the gelatinous liquid that oozes from ivy as it climbs.

“By understanding the proteins that give rise to ivy’s strength, we can give rise to approaches to engineer new bio-inspired adhesives for medical and industry products,” said Mingjun Zhang, the biomedical engineering professor who led the work.

Results appeared in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.