Geckos are excellent at climbing smooth vertical surfaces and their toes are the key to this phenomenon. Research has found that there are a hundred thousand setae, made of Sub-division of beta-keratin, on the toes. These 30–130 µm long seta contain countless 0.2–0.5 µm spatula-shaped structures. Force sensor reveals that a seta operates by van der Waals forces. A unique macroscopic orientation and preloading of the seta increased attachment force 600-fold above that of frictional measurements of the material. Suitably orientated setae reduced the forces necessary to peel the toe by simply detaching above a critical angle with the substratum. Furthermore, gecko toes are well adapted to adhere to hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces.
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