Calcitic microlenses as part of the photoreceptor system in brittlestars

Shape-controllable microlens arrays via direct transfer of photocurable polymer droplets

A simple method is presented to form an array of shape-controllable microlenses by partial photocuring of an UV-curable polymer and direct transfer. Using the transferred lens array, nanoscale metal patterns as small as 130-nm gaps are detected under an optical microscope with a distinguishable resolution.

Certain biominerals in leaves function as light scatterers

Cystoliths are amorphous calcium carbonate bodies that form in the leaves of some plant families. Cystoliths are regularly distributed in the epidermis and protrude into the photosynthetic tissue, the mesophyll. The photosynthetic pigments generate a steep light gradient in the leaf. Under most illumination regimes the outer mesophyll is light saturated, thus the photosynthetic apparatus is kinetically unable to use the excess light for photochemistry. Here we use micro-scale modulated fluorometry to demonstrate that light scattered by the cystoliths is distributed from the photosynthetically inefficient upper tissue to the efficient, but light deprived, lower tissue. The results prove that the presence of light scatterers reduces the steep light gradient, thus enabling the leaf to use the incoming light flux more efficiently. MicroCT and electron microscopy confirm that the spatial distribution of the minerals is compatible with their optical function. During the study we encountered large calcium oxalate druses in the same anatomical location as the cystoliths. These druses proved to have similar light scattering functions as the cystoliths. This study shows that certain minerals in the leaves of different plants distribute the light flux more evenly inside the leaf.

Self-assembly of amorphous calcium carbonate microlens arrays

Biological materials are often based on simple constituents and grown by the principle of self-assembly under ambient conditions. In particular, biomineralization approaches exploit efficient pathways of inorganic material synthesis. There is still a large gap between the complexity of natural systems and the practical utilization of bioinspired formation mechanisms. Here we describe a simple self-assembly route leading to a CaCO₃ microlens array, somewhat reminiscent of the brittlestars' microlenses, with uniform size and focal length, by using a minimum number of components and equipment at ambient conditions. The formation mechanism of the amorphous CaCO₃ microlens arrays was elucidated by confocal Raman spectroscopic imaging to be a two-step growth process mediated by the organic surfactant. CaCO₃ microlens arrays are easy to fabricate, biocompatible and functional in amorphous or more stable crystalline forms. This shows that advanced optical materials can be generated by a simple mineral precipitation.

Biological materials efficiently exploit self-assembly of simple constituents to produce complex functional structures such as optical devices. By controlling organic molecules, Lee et al. show fast two-step self-assembly of CaCO₃ microlens arrays, reminiscent of their biological counterparts.

Global diversity of brittle stars (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea)

This review presents a comprehensive overview of the current status regarding the global diversity of the echinoderm class Ophiuroidea, focussing on taxonomy and distribution patterns, with brief introduction to their anatomy, biology, phylogeny, and palaeontological history. A glossary of terms is provided. Species names and taxonomic decisions have been extracted from the literature and compiled in The World Ophiuroidea Database, part of the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS). Ophiuroidea, with 2064 known species, are the largest class of Echinodermata. A table presents 16 families with numbers of genera and species. The largest are Amphiuridae (467), Ophiuridae (344 species) and Ophiacanthidae (319 species). A biogeographic analysis for all world oceans and all accepted species was performed, based on published distribution records. Approximately similar numbers of species were recorded from the shelf (n = 1313) and bathyal depth strata (1297). The Indo-Pacific region had the highest species richness overall (825 species) and at all depths. Adjacent regions were also relatively species rich, including the North Pacific (398), South Pacific (355) and Indian (316) due to the presence of many Indo-Pacific species that partially extended into these regions. A secondary region of enhanced species richness was found in the West Atlantic (335). Regions of relatively low species richness include the Arctic (73 species), East Atlantic (118), South America (124) and Antarctic (126).

Stable prenucleation mineral clusters are liquid-like ionic polymers

Calcium carbonate is an abundant substance that can be created in several mineral forms by the reaction of dissolved carbon dioxide in water with calcium ions. Through biomineralization, organisms can harness and control this process to form various functional materials that can act as anything from shells through to lenses. The early stages of calcium carbonate formation have recently attracted attention as stable prenucleation clusters have been observed, contrary to classical models. Here we show, using computer simulations combined with the analysis of experimental data, that these mineral clusters are made of an ionic polymer, composed of alternating calcium and carbonate ions, with a dynamic topology consisting of chains, branches and rings. The existence of a disordered, flexible and strongly hydrated precursor provides a basis for explaining the formation of other liquid-like amorphous states of calcium carbonate, in addition to the non-classical behaviour during growth of amorphous calcium carbonate.

Biotemplated materials for sustainable energy and environment: current status and challenges

Materials science will play a key role in the further development of emerging solutions for the increasing problems of energy and environment. Materials found in nature have many inspiring structures, such as hierarchical organizations, periodic architectures, or nanostructures, that endow them with amazing functions, such as energy harvesting and conversion, antireflection, structural coloration, superhydrophobicity, and biological self-assembly. Biotemplating is an effective strategy to obtain morphology-controllable materials with structural specificity, complexity, and related unique functions. Herein, we highlight the synthesis and application of biotemplated materials for six key areas of energy and environment technologies, namely, photocatalytic hydrogen evolution, CO(2) reduction, solar cells, lithium-ion batteries, photocatalytic degradation, and gas/vapor sensing. Although the applications differ from each other, a common fundamental challenge is to realize optimum structures for improved performances. We highlight the role of four typical structures derived from biological systems exploited to optimize properties: hierarchical (porous) structures, periodic (porous) structures, hollow structures, and nanostructures. We also provide examples of using biogenic elements (e.g., C, Si, N, I, P, S) for the creation of active materials. Finally, we disscuss the challenges of achieving the desired performance for large-scale commercial applications and provide some useful prototypes from nature for the biomimetic design of new materials or systems. The emphasis is mainly focused on the structural effects and compositional utilization of biotemplated materials.

Multifunctional integration: from biological to bio-inspired materials

Nature is a school for human beings. Learning from nature has long been a source of bioinspiration for scientists and engineers. Multiscale structures are characteristic for biological materials, exhibiting inherent multifunctional integration. Optimized biological solutions provide inspiration for scientists and engineers to design and to fabricate multiscale structured materials for multifunctional integration.

A transparent hybrid of nanocrystalline cellulose and amorphous calcium carbonate nanoparticles

Nanocellulose hybrids are promising candidates for biodegradable multifunctional materials. Hybrids of nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) and amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) nanoparticles were obtained through a facile chemical approach over a wide range of compositions. Controlling the interactions between NCC and ACC results in hard, transparent structures with tunable composition, homogeneity and anisotropy.

Facile fabrication of chitosan-calcium carbonate nanowall arrays and their use as a sensitive non-enzymatic organophosphate pesticide sensor

Novel nanowall arrays of CaCO(3)-chitosan (CaCO(3)-chi) were deposited onto a cathodic substrate by a facile one-step electrodeposition approach. Results demonstrate that chitosan plays an important role in the formation of nanowall arrays. Freestanding well-aligned CaCO(3)-chi nanowall arrays were observed to be uniformly distributed over the whole substrate with a lateral dimension in the micrometre size and an average pore size of ∼400 nm. The as-formed CaCO(3)-chi nanowall arrays featuring interlaced porous network architecture, large surface area, and open boundaries, are highly efficient in the capture of organophosphate pesticides (OPs). Combined with stripping voltammetry, a highly sensitive non-enzymatic OPs sensor was fabricated using the prepared CaCO(3)-chi nanowall arrays for solid phase extraction (SPE). The detection limit for methyl parathion (MP) in aqueous solutions was determined to be 0.8 ng mL(-1) (S/N = 3). The resulting sensor made of novel CaCO(3)-chi nanowall arrays exhibits good reproducibility and acceptable stability. This work not only provides a facile and effective route for the preparation of CaCO(3)-chi nanowall arrays, but also offers a new promising protocol for OPs analysis.

Strong stabilization of amorphous calcium carbonate emulsion by ovalbumin: gaining insight into the mechanism of 'polymer-induced liquid precursor' processes

The impact of the ovo proteins ovalbumin and lysozyme--present in the first stage of egg shell formation--on the homogeneous formation of the liquid amorphous calcium carbonate (LACC) precursor, was studied by a combination of complementing methods: in situ WAXS, SANS, XANES, TEM, and immunogold labeling. Lysozyme (pI = 9.3) destabilizes the LACC emulsion whereas the glycoprotein ovalbumin (pI = 4.7) extends the lifespan of the emulsified state remarkably. In the light of the presented data: (a) Ovalbumin is shown to behave commensurable to the 'polymer-induced liquid precursor' (PILP) process proposed by Gower et al. Ovalbumin can be assumed to take a key role during eggshell formation where it serves as an effective stabilization agent for transient precursors and prevents undirected mineralization of the eggshell. (b) It is further shown that the emulsified LACC carries a negative surface charge and is electrostatically stabilized. (c) We propose that the liquid amorphous calcium carbonate is affected by polymers by depletion stabilization and de-emulsification rather than 'induced' by acidic proteins and polymers during a so-called polymer-induced liquid-precursor process. The original PILP coating effect, first reported by Gower et al., appears to be a result of a de-emulsification process of a stabilized LACC phase. The behavior of the liquid amorphous carbonate phase and the polymer-induced liquid-precursor phase itself can be well described by colloid chemical terms: electrostatic and depletion stabilization and de-emulsification by depletion destabilization.

Understanding the dermal light sense in the context of integrative photoreceptor cell biology

While the concept of a dermal light sense has existed for over a century, little progress has been made in our understanding of the mechanisms underlying dispersed photoreception and the evolutionary histories of dispersed photoreceptor cells. These cells historically have been difficult to locate and positively identify, but modern molecular techniques, integrated with existing behavioral, morphological, and physiological data, will make cell identification easier and allow us to address questions of mechanism and evolution. With this in mind, we propose a new classification scheme for all photoreceptor cell types based on two axes, cell distribution (aggregated vs. dispersed) and position within neural networks (first order vs. high order). All photoreceptor cells fall within one of four quadrants created by these axes: aggregated/high order, dispersed/high order, aggregated/first order, or dispersed/first order. This new method of organization will help researchers make objective comparisons between different photoreceptor cell types. Using integrative data from four major phyla (Mollusca, Cnidaria, Echinodermata, and Arthropoda), we also provide evidence for three hypotheses for dispersed photoreceptor cell function and evolution. First, aside from echinoderms, we find that animals often use dispersed photoreceptor cells for tasks that do not require spatial vision. Second, although there are both echinoderm and arthropod exceptions, we find that dispersed photoreceptor cells generally lack morphological specializations that either enhance light gathering or aid in the collection of directional information about light. Third, we find that dispersed photoreceptor cells have evolved a number of times in Metazoa and that most dispersed photoreceptor cells have likely evolved through the co-option of existing phototransduction cascades. Our new classification scheme, combined with modern investigative techniques, will help us address these hypotheses in great detail and generate new hypothesis regarding the function and evolution of dispersed photoreceptor cells.

Unique system of photoreceptors in sea urchin tube feet

Different sea urchin species show a vast variety of responses to variations in light intensity; however, despite this behavioral evidence for photosensitivity, light sensing in these animals has remained an enigma. Genome information of the recently sequenced purple sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) allowed us to address this question from a previously unexplored molecular perspective by localizing expression of the rhabdomeric opsin Sp-opsin4 and Sp-pax6, two genes essential for photoreceptor function and development, respectively. Using a specifically designed antibody against Sp-Opsin4 and in situ hybridization for both genes, we detected expression in two distinct groups of photoreceptor cells (PRCs) located in the animal's numerous tube feet. Specific reactivity of the Sp-Opsin4 antibody with sea star optic cushions, which regulate phototaxis, suggests a similar visual function in sea urchins. Ultrastructural characterization of the sea urchin PRCs revealed them to be of a microvillar receptor type. Our data suggest that echinoderms, in contrast to chordates, deploy a microvillar, r-opsin-expressing PRC type for vision, a feature that has been so far documented only in protostome animals. Surprisingly, sea urchin PRCs lack any associated screening pigment. Indeed, one of the tube foot PRC clusters may account for directional vision by being shaded through the opaque calcite skeleton. The PRC axons connect to the animal internal nervous system, suggesting an integrative function beyond local short circuits. Because juveniles display no phototaxis until skeleton completion, we suggest a model in which the entire sea urchin, deploying its skeleton as PRC screening device, functions as a huge compound eye.

Biomimetic antireflective hierarchical arrays

We report a simple method for the fabrication of biomimetic antireflective hierarchical arrays based on the combination of self-assembled polymer spheres and nanoimprint lithography (NIL). The hierarchical structures are fabricated by creating nanopillars on the microscale round protrusion arrays, which are similar to natural mosquito eyes consisting of combined micro- and nanostructures. The hierarchical arrays dramatically suppress the surface reflection from visible to near-infrared regions with an angle of incidence of up to 70°.

Sea urchin tube feet are photosensory organs that express a rhabdomeric-like opsin and PAX6

All echinoderms have unique hydraulic structures called tube feet, known for their roles in light sensitivity, respiration, chemoreception and locomotion. In the green sea urchin, the most distal portion of these tube feet contain five ossicles arranged as a light collector with its concave surface facing towards the ambient light. These ossicles are perforated and lined with pigment cells that express a PAX6 protein that is universally involved in the development of eyes and sensory organs in other bilaterians. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based sequencing and real time quantitative PCR (qPCR) also demonstrate the presence and differential expression of a rhabdomeric-like opsin within these tube feet. Morphologically, nerves that could serve to transmit information to the test innervate the tube feet, and the differential expression of opsin transcripts in the tube feet is inversely, and significantly, related to the amount of light that tube feet are exposed to depending on their location on the test. The expression of these genes, the differential expression of opsin based on light exposure and the unique morphological features at the distal portion of the tube foot strongly support the hypothesis that in addition to previously identified functional roles of tube feet they are also photosensory organs that detect and respond to changes in the underwater light field.

Lessons for New Classes of Inorganic/Organic Composites from the Spicules and Skeleton of the Sea Sponge Euplectella aspergillum

Studies have been carried out on the structures and mechanical characteristics of an unusual family of sea sponges under the classification of Hexactinellida, genus Euplectella. The sponge spicules have been of interest to materials scientists because of their potentially important optical, coupled with mechanical, properties. The structures of the class Hexactinellida are characterized by a concentric ring appearance in the cross-section, which is a composite of hydrated silica, coupled with silicatein as a thin layer at the ring interfaces. The mechanical behavior and the toughness of the spicules have been examined with the aid of a special fiber testing method, coupled with scanning electrom microscopy (SEM) observations. It appears that there may be common mechanisms underlying toughness in rigid natural composites with high ratios of mineral/organic phase. In addition, novel pressurization tests of a portion of the sponge skeleton have provided information about the resilience of the skeleton, which resembles a selfsupporting glass winding of a cylindrical composite structure.

Extracellular Matrix Molecules Involved in Barnacle Shell Mineralization

Austromegabalanus psittacusis a large (normally up to 30 cm high) sessile balanomorph barnacle from the coast of Chile and South Peru. Its hard shell is composed of twelve calcareous side plates, six parietes and six radii, joined in the form of a truncated cone opened at the top. Plates rest on a basal disk firmly cemented to the substratum. Although the crystalline microstructure of barnacle's shell has been studied to some extent, its organic composition and the mechanisms governing the biomineralization of such highly ordered nanocomposite have remained obscure. By using X-ray diffraction, infrared spectrometry, SEM and TEM electron microscopy, histochemistry, immuno-histochemistry and -ultrastructure, biochemistry and a crystallization assay, we have studied the cell-shell interactions, the crystalline microstructure of the inorganic moiety and the localization of particular macromolecules, and tested their influence on crystallization.The mineral of the plates and basal disk was calcite showing a (104) preferential orientation. Plates were not solid but porous. While parietes have longitudinal canals (from the base to the apex), radii have transversal canals arranged parallel to the base. These canals are not in the center of the plates but displaced to the outside of the shell delimiting a thinner solid outer lamina and a thicker inner one. The inner lamina consisted of parallel calcified layers separated by organic sheets. These sheets showed autofluorescence and consisted of chitin surrounded by proteoglycans and other minor proteins, which seems to be responsible for the fluorescent behaviour. These organic sheets were also organized as several concentric rings around the canals. The shell matrix obtained after decalcification, which surrounded the crystals, also contained a loose net of such proteoglycans. Mantle epithelial cells covered the entire surface of the inner side of the inner lamina and extend to the plate canals. While isolated chitin did not promote or alter calcite crystallization, the proteoglycan-rich fraction dramatically modified crystal morphology and size. As we have demonstrated in another model of biomineralization, such as the eggshell, hereby we suggest that these structured polyanionic proteoglycan moieties could also be part of the regulatory mechanisms of the barnacle shell mineralization.

Colloidal-crystal-assisted patterning of crystalline materials

Colloidal crystals have shown great potential as versatile templates for the fabrication of patterned micro- and nanostructures with complex architectures and novel properties. The patterning of functional crystalline materials in two and three dimensions is essential to the realization of their applications in many technologically important fields. This article highlights some recent progress in the fabrication of 2D and 3D patterned crystalline materials with the assistance of colloidal crystals. By combining a bioinspired synthetic strategy based on a transient amorphous phase with a colloidal-crystal templating method, unique 3D ordered macroporous (3DOM) calcite single crystals can be created. Moreover, patterned arrays of regular ZnO nanopillars with controlled size, shape, and orientation can be fabricated via a facile wet chemical approach by using masks derived from monolayer colloidal crystals (MCC).

Guarding embryo development of zebrafish by shell engineering: a strategy to shield life from ozone depletion

Background

The reduced concentration of stratospheric ozone results in an increased flux of biologically damaging mid-ultraviolet radiation (UVB, 280 to 320 nm) reaching earth surfaces. Environmentally relevant levels of UVB negatively impact various natural populations of marine organisms, which is ascribed to suppressed embryonic development by increased radiation.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Inspired by strategies in the living systems generated by evolution, we induce an extra UVB-adsorbed coat on the chorion (eggshell surrounding embryo) of zebrafish, during the blastula period. Short and long UV exposure experiments show that the artificial mineral-shell reduces the UV radiation effectively and the enclosed embryos become more robust. In contrast, the uncoated embryos cannot survive under the enhanced UVB condition.

Conclusions

We suggest that an engineered shell of functional materials onto biological units can be developed as a strategy to shield lives to counteract negative changes of global environment, or to provide extra protection for the living units in biological research.

A kinetic model of the transformation of a micropatterned amorphous precursor into a porous single crystal

Biogenic single crystals with complex shapes are believed to be generated by the crystallization of an amorphous precursor. Recent biomimetic experiments on the crystallization of calcite via amorphous-to-crystalline transition point to the fact that the transformation kinetics may be controlled by the micropattern and the macroscopic shape of the amorphous precursor phase. Here we analyse a simple kinetic model, based on thermodynamic considerations, showing that the presence of cavities in the micropatterned precursor phase might interfere with the transformation process and control its kinetics. The size of the cavities couples to the total surface energy and, hence, to crystal nucleation and growth, while the spacing of the cavities, as compared to the typical diffusion path, controls the possible nucleation of competing crystals.

Polymer-controlled crystallization of unique mineral superstructures

The origin of complex superstructures of biomaterials in biological systems and the amazing self-assembly mechanisms of their emergence have attracted a great deal of attention recently. Mimicking nature, diverse kinds of hydrophilic polymers with different functionalities and organic insoluble matrices have been designed for the morphogenesis of inorganic crystals. In this Research News, emerging new strategies for morphogenesis and controlled crystal growth of minerals, that is, selective adsorption and mesoscale transformation for highly ordered superstructures, the combination of a synthetic hydrophilic polymer with an insoluble matrix, a substrate, or the air/solution interface, and controlled crystallization in a mixed solvent are highlighted. It is shown that these new strategies can be even further extended to morphogenesis and controlled crystallization of diverse inorganic or inorganic-organic hybrid materials with structural complexity, structural specialties, and improved functionalities.

Spatial vision in the purple sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus (Echinoidea)

Recent evidence that echinoids of the genus Echinometra have moderate visual acuity that appears to be mediated by their spines screening off-axis light suggests that the urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, with its higher spine density, may have even more acute spatial vision. We analyzed the movements of 39 specimens of S. purpuratus after they were placed in the center of a featureless tank containing a round, black target that had an angular diameter of 6.5 deg. or 10 deg. (solid angles of 0.01 sr and 0.024 sr, respectively). An average orientation vector for each urchin was determined by testing the animal four times, with the target placed successively at bearings of 0 deg., 90 deg., 180 deg. and 270 deg. (relative to magnetic east). The urchins showed no significant unimodal or axial orientation relative to any non-target feature of the environment or relative to the changing position of the 6.5 deg. target. However, the urchins were strongly axially oriented relative to the changing position of the 10 deg. target (mean axis from –1 to 179 deg.; 95% confidence interval ± 12 deg.; P<0.001, Moore's non-parametric Hotelling's test), with 10 of the 20 urchins tested against that target choosing an average bearing within 10 deg. of either the target center or its opposite direction (two would be expected by chance). In addition, the average length of the 20 target-normalized bearings for the 10 deg. target (each the vector sum of the bearings for the four trials) were far higher than would be expected by chance (P<10−10; Monte Carlo simulation), showing that each urchin, whether it moved towards or away from the target, did so with high consistency. These results strongly suggest that S. purpuratus detected the 10 deg. target, responding either by approaching it or fleeing it. Given that the urchins did not appear to respond to the 6.5 deg. target, it is likely that the 10 deg. target was close to the minimum detectable size for this species. Interestingly, measurements of the spine density of the regions of the test that faced horizontally predicted a similar visual resolution (8.3±0.5 deg. for the interambulacrum and 11±0.54 deg. for the ambulacrum). The function of this relatively low, but functional, acuity – on par with that of the chambered Nautilus and the horseshoe crab – is unclear but, given the bimodal response, is likely to be related to both shelter seeking and predator avoidance.

Visualizing the 3D Internal Structure of Calcite Single Crystals Grown in Agarose Hydrogels

Single crystals are usually faceted solids with homogeneous chemical compositions. Biogenic and synthetic calcite single crystals, however, have been found to incorporate macromolecules, spurring investigations of how large molecules are distributed within the crystals without substantially disrupting the crystalline lattice. Here, electron tomography reveals how random, three-dimensional networks of agarose nanofibers are incorporated into single crystals of synthetic calcite by allowing both high- and low-energy fiber/crystal interface facets to satisfy network curvatures. These results suggest that physical entrapment of polymer aggregates is a viable mechanism by which macromolecules can become incorporated inside inorganic single crystals. As such, this work has implications for understanding the structure and formation of biominerals as well as toward the development of new high–surface area, single-crystal composite materials.