The kitchen and the laboratory have come together at Harvard's Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, where researchers have developed a method that allows a biodegradable, and biocompatible bioplastic derived from the chitin shells of crustaceans and insects to be used to patch up wounds or hold implanted medical devices in place. The technique involves combining the material with a cutting edge culinary ingredient called transglutaminase or "meat glue". By combining chitosan with transglutaminase, the team found that they could use the bioplastic and glue to bond tissues together. In addition, they were able to develop different formulations to create different types of chitosan that can bond to many types of material. A foam version is designed for the most serious of wounds, like those found on battlefields or in car accidents. Such a foam could be used to fill wound cavities and staunch bleeding until the patient can be moved to hospital.