(a) Several strategies were tested to reduce the material properties and adhesion strength of the tough adhesives including the use of chemicals to chelate calcium ions from alginate and reduce molecular weight (b) Treatment with all chemicals decreased mechanical toughness. *P<0.01 between groups. Mean values are shown and error bars represent ± s.d. (n=3-6 samples/group), as analyzed by a one-way ANOVA with post hoc t-tests with Bonferroni correction. (c) The adhesion energy following placement on porcine skin tissue was measured as a function of various treatments. *P<0.01 between groups. Mean values are shown and error bars represent ± s.d. (n=3-6 samples/group), as analyzed by a one-way ANOVA with post hoc t-tests with Bonferroni correction. (d) Following euthanasia, mouse skin was assessed using high frequency ultrasound and histology. (e) Control skin, and skin following removal of the TA (both without [TA] and with alginate lyase [TA+AL]), Dermabond [DB], and cyanoacrylate [CA] as assessed using high frequency ultrasound (left) and histology (right). Green arrows inside chitosan. Purple arrows indicate removal of the epidermis. Scale bar (HFUS) = 1mm. Scale bar (histology) = 100um. Graphics generated in part with BioRender.