US Patent 7695811 - Reversible adhesive using nanostructures

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7695811.html

This patent from the Regents of the University of California proposes a magnetically actuated reversible adhesive using polymer nanorods. Claim 1 reads:

1. An adhesive, comprising:

a compliant surface having one or more nano-structures thereon,

wherein the compliant surface is moved by applying a magnetic field either to engage the nano-structures with an adhering surface or to remove the nano-structures from the adhering surface.