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He W, Wang M, Mei G, Liu S, Khan AQ, Li C, Feng D, Su Z, Bao L, Wang G, Liu E, Zhu Y, Bai J, Zhu M, Zhou X, Liu Z. Establishing superfine nanofibrils for robust polyelectrolyte artificial spider silk and powerful artificial muscles. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3485. [PMID: 38664427 PMCID: PMC11045855 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47796-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Spider silk exhibits an excellent combination of high strength and toughness, which originates from the hierarchical self-assembled structure of spidroin during fiber spinning. In this work, superfine nanofibrils are established in polyelectrolyte artificial spider silk by optimizing the flexibility of polymer chains, which exhibits combination of breaking strength and toughness ranging from 1.83 GPa and 238 MJ m-3 to 0.53 GPa and 700 MJ m-3, respectively. This is achieved by introducing ions to control the dissociation of polymer chains and evaporation-induced self-assembly under external stress. In addition, the artificial spider silk possesses thermally-driven supercontraction ability. This work provides inspiration for the design of high-performance fiber materials.
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Grants
- This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grants Nos. 2022YFB3807103, 2022YFA1203304, and 2019YFE0119600, Z.F.L.), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grants 52350120, 52090034, 52225306, 51973093, and 51773094, Z.F.L.), Frontiers Science Center for Table Organic Matter, Nankai University (grant number 63181206. Z.F.L.), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (grant 63171219. Z.F.L.), Lingyu Grant (2021-JCJQ-JJ-1064, Z.L.F.).
- the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant 22371300, X.Z.)
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenqian He
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Meilin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Guangkai Mei
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Shiyong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Abdul Qadeer Khan
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Chao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Danyang Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Zihao Su
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Lili Bao
- Department of Science, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Ge Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Enzhao Liu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Ionic-Molecular Function of Cardiovascular disease, Department of Cardiology, Tianjin Institute of Cardiology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300211, China
| | - Yutian Zhu
- College of Materials, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, China
| | - Jie Bai
- Chemical Engineering College, Inner Mongolia University of Technology, Hohhot, 010051, China
| | - Meifang Zhu
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China.
| | - Xiang Zhou
- Department of Science, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China.
| | - Zunfeng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China.
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Dong Z, Peng R, Zhang Y, Shan Y, Ding W, Liu Y, Li J, Zhao M, Jiang LB, Ling S. Tendon Repair and Regeneration Using Bioinspired Fibrillation Engineering That Mimicked the Structure and Mechanics of Natural Tissue. ACS NANO 2023; 17:17858-17872. [PMID: 37656882 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c03428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
Replicating the controlled nanofibrillar architecture of collagenous tissue represents a promising approach in the design of tendon replacements that have tissue-mimicking biomechanics─outstanding mechanical strength and toughness, defect tolerance, and fatigue and fracture resistance. Guided by this principle, a fibrous artificial tendon (FAT) was constructed in the present study using an engineering strategy inspired by the fibrillation of a naturally spun silk protein. This bioinspired FAT featured a highly ordered molecular and nanofibrillar architecture similar to that of soft collagenous tissue, which exhibited the mechanical and fracture characteristics of tendons. Such similarities provided the motivation to investigate FAT for applications in Achilles tendon defect repair. In vitro cellular morphology and expression of tendon-related genes in cell culture and in vivo modeling of tendon injury clearly revealed that the highly oriented nanofibrils in the FAT substantially promoted the expression of tendon-related genes combined with the Achilles tendon structure and function. These results provide confidence about the potential clinical applications of the FAT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhirui Dong
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Jinshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 201508, China
| | - Ruoxuan Peng
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Yuehua Zhang
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Yicheng Shan
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Wang Ding
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yifan Liu
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Jian Li
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Mingdong Zhao
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Jinshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 201508, China
| | - Li-Bo Jiang
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Shengjie Ling
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai 201210, China
- Shanghai Clinical Research and Trial Center, 201210 Shanghai, People's Republic of China
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Shi Y, Wu B, Sun S, Wu P. Aqueous spinning of robust, self-healable, and crack-resistant hydrogel microfibers enabled by hydrogen bond nanoconfinement. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1370. [PMID: 36914648 PMCID: PMC10011413 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37036-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Robust damage-tolerant hydrogel fibers with high strength, crack resistance, and self-healing properties are indispensable for their long-term uses in soft machines and robots as load-bearing and actuating elements. However, current hydrogel fibers with inherent homogeneous structure are generally vulnerable to defects and cracks and thus local mechanical failure readily occurs across fiber normal. Here, inspired by spider spinning, we introduce a facile, energy-efficient aqueous pultrusion spinning process to continuously produce stiff yet extensible hydrogel microfibers at ambient conditions. The resulting microfibers are not only crack-insensitive but also rapidly heal the cracks in 30 s by moisture, owing to their structural nanoconfinement with hydrogen bond clusters embedded in an ionically complexed hygroscopic matrix. Moreover, the nanoconfined structure is highly energy-dissipating, moisture-sensitive but stable in water, leading to excellent damping and supercontraction properties. This work creates opportunities for the sustainable spinning of robust hydrogel-based fibrous materials towards diverse intelligent applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingkun Shi
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering & Center for Advanced Low-dimension Materials, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China
| | - Baohu Wu
- Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS) at Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ) Forschungszentrum Jülich, Garching, 85748, Germany
| | - Shengtong Sun
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering & Center for Advanced Low-dimension Materials, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China.
| | - Peiyi Wu
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering & Center for Advanced Low-dimension Materials, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China.
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4
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Rapid molecular diversification and homogenization of clustered major ampullate silk genes in Argiope garden spiders. PLoS Genet 2022; 18:e1010537. [PMID: 36508456 PMCID: PMC9779670 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The evolutionary diversification of orb-web weaving spiders is closely tied to the mechanical performance of dragline silk. This proteinaceous fiber provides the primary structural framework of orb web architecture, and its extraordinary toughness allows these structures to absorb the high energy of aerial prey impact. The dominant model of dragline silk molecular structure involves the combined function of two highly repetitive, spider-specific, silk genes (spidroins)-MaSp1 and MaSp2. Recent genomic studies, however, have suggested this framework is overly simplistic, and our understanding of how MaSp genes evolve is limited. Here we present a comprehensive analysis of MaSp structural and evolutionary diversity across species of Argiope (garden spiders). This genomic analysis reveals the largest catalog of MaSp genes found in any spider, driven largely by an expansion of MaSp2 genes. The rapid diversification of Argiope MaSp genes, located primarily in a single genomic cluster, is associated with profound changes in silk gene structure. MaSp2 genes, in particular, have evolved complex hierarchically organized repeat units (ensemble repeats) delineated by novel introns that exhibit remarkable evolutionary dynamics. These repetitive introns have arisen independently within the genus, are highly homogenized within a gene, but diverge rapidly between genes. In some cases, these iterated introns are organized in an alternating structure in which every other intron is nearly identical in sequence. We hypothesize that this intron structure has evolved to facilitate homogenization of the coding sequence. We also find evidence of intergenic gene conversion and identify a more diverse array of stereotypical amino acid repeats than previously recognized. Overall, the extreme diversification found among MaSp genes requires changes in the structure-function model of dragline silk performance that focuses on the differential use and interaction among various MaSp paralogs as well as the impact of ensemble repeat structure and different amino acid motifs on mechanical behavior.
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Heedy S, Pineda JJ, Meli VS, Wang SW, Yee AF. Nanopillar Templating Augments the Stiffness and Strength in Biopolymer Films. ACS NANO 2022; 16:3311-3322. [PMID: 35080856 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.1c11378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Natural load-bearing mammalian tissues, such as cartilage and ligaments, contain ∼70% water yet can be mechanically stiff and strong due to the highly templated structures within. Here, we present a bioinspired approach to significantly stiffen and strengthen biopolymer hydrogels and films through the combination of nanoscale architecture and templated microstructure. Imprinted submicrometer pillar arrays absorb energy and deflect cracks. The produced chitosan hydrogels show nanofiber chains aligned by nanopillar topography, subsequently templating the microstructure throughout the film. These templated nanopillar chitosan hydrogels mechanically outperform unstructured flat hydrogels, with increases in the moduli of ∼160%, up to ∼20 MPa, and work at break of ∼450%, up to 8.5 MJ m-3. Furthermore, the strength at break increases by ∼350%, up to ∼37 MPa, and it is one of the strongest hydrogels yet reported. The nanopillar templating strategy is generalizable to other biopolymers capable of forming oriented domains and strong interactions. Overall, this process yields hydrogel films that demonstrate mechanical performance comparable to that of other stiff, strong hydrogels and natural tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Heedy
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Juviarelli J Pineda
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Vijaykumar S Meli
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Szu-Wen Wang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Albert F Yee
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, United States
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6
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Zhang X, Xiao L, Ding Z, Lu Q, Kaplan DL. Fragile-Tough Mechanical Reversion of Silk Materials via Tuning Supramolecular Assembly. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2021; 7:2337-2345. [PMID: 33835795 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.1c00181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Regenerated silk nanofibers are interesting as protein-based material building blocks due to their unique structure and biological origin. Here, a new strategy based on control of supramolecular assembly was developed to regulate interactions among silk nanofibers by changing the solvent, achieving tough mechanical features for silk films. Formic acid was used to replace water related to charge repulsion of silk nanofibers in solution, inducing interactions among the nanofibers. The films formed under these conditions had an elastic modulus of 3.4 ± 0.3 GPa, an ultimate tensile strength of 76.9 ± 1.6 MPa, and an elongation at break of 3.5 ± 0.1%, while the materials formed from aqueous solutions remained fragile. The mechanical performance of the formic acid-derived nanofiber films was further improved through post-stretching or via the addition of graphene. In addition, the silk nanofiber films could be functionalized with various bioactive ingredients such as curcumin. These new silk nanofiber films with a unique combination of mechanical properties and functions provide new biomaterials achieved using traditional solvents and processes through insight and control of their assembly mechanisms in solution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyi Zhang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk & Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Liying Xiao
- National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk & Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Zhaozhao Ding
- National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk & Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Qiang Lu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk & Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - David L Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
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7
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Ren J, Wang Y, Yao Y, Wang Y, Fei X, Qi P, Lin S, Kaplan DL, Buehler MJ, Ling S. Biological Material Interfaces as Inspiration for Mechanical and Optical Material Designs. Chem Rev 2019; 119:12279-12336. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.9b00416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jing Ren
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Yuan Yao
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Yang Wang
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Xiang Fei
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, International Joint Laboratory for Advanced Fiber and Low-Dimension Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Ping Qi
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Shihui Lin
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - David L. Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Markus J. Buehler
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Shengjie Ling
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai 201210, China
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8
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Yeo J, Jung GS, Martín-Martínez FJ, Beem J, Qin Z, Buehler MJ. Multiscale Design of Graphyne-Based Materials for High-Performance Separation Membranes. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2019; 31:e1805665. [PMID: 30645772 PMCID: PMC7252433 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201805665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2018] [Revised: 10/18/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
By varying the number of acetylenic linkages connecting aromatic rings, a new family of atomically thin graph-n-yne materials can be designed and synthesized. Generating immense scientific interest due to its structural diversity and excellent physical properties, graph-n-yne has opened new avenues toward numerous promising engineering applications, especially for separation membranes with precise pore sizes. Having these tunable pore sizes in combination with their excellent mechanical strength to withstand high pressures, free-standing graph-n-yne is theoretically posited to be an outstanding membrane material for separating or purifying mixtures of either gases or liquids, rivaling or even dramatically exceeding the capabilities of current, state-of-art separation membranes. Computational modeling and simulations play an integral role in the bottom-up design and characterization of these graph-n-yne materials. Thus, here, the state of the art in modeling α-, β-, γ-, δ-, and 6,6,12-graphyne nanosheets for synthesizing graph-2-yne materials and 3D architectures thereof is discussed. Different synthesis methods are described and a broad overview of computational characterizations of graph-n-yne's electrical, chemical, and thermal properties is provided. Furthermore, a series of in-depth computational studies that delve into the specifics of graph-n-yne's mechanical strength and porosity, which confer superior performance for separation and desalination membranes, are reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjie Yeo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, USA
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Institute of High Performance Computing, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 138632
| | - Gang Seob Jung
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Francisco J. Martín-Martínez
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Jennifer Beem
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Zhao Qin
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Markus J. Buehler
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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Ling S, Chen W, Fan Y, Zheng K, Jin K, Yu H, Buehler MJ, Kaplan DL. Biopolymer nanofibrils: structure, modeling, preparation, and applications. Prog Polym Sci 2018; 85:1-56. [PMID: 31915410 PMCID: PMC6948189 DOI: 10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2018.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 168] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Biopolymer nanofibrils exhibit exceptional mechanical properties with a unique combination of strength and toughness, while also presenting biological functions that interact with the surrounding environment. These features of biopolymer nanofibrils profit from their hierarchical structures that spun angstrom to hundreds of nanometer scales. To maintain these unique structural features and to directly utilize these natural supramolecular assemblies, a variety of new methods have been developed to produce biopolymer nanofibrils. In particular, cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs), chitin nanofibrils (ChNFs), silk nanofibrils (SNFs) and collagen nanofibrils (CoNFs), as the four most abundant biopolymer nanofibrils on earth, have been the focus of research in recent years due to their renewable features, wide availability, low-cost, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. A series of top-down and bottom-up strategies have been accessed to exfoliate and regenerate these nanofibrils for versatile advanced applications. In this review, we first summarize the structures of biopolymer nanofibrils in nature and outline their related computational models with the aim of disclosing fundamental structure-property relationships in biological materials. Then, we discuss the underlying methods used for the preparation of CNFs, ChNFs, SNF and CoNFs, and discuss emerging applications for these biopolymer nanofibrils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengjie Ling
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, 02155, USA
| | - Wenshuai Chen
- Key Laboratory of Bio-based Material Science & Technology, Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Yimin Fan
- College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ke Zheng
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Kai Jin
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Haipeng Yu
- Key Laboratory of Bio-based Material Science & Technology, Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Markus J. Buehler
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - David L. Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, 02155, USA
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10
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Zhang W, Ye C, Zheng K, Zhong J, Tang Y, Fan Y, Buehler MJ, Ling S, Kaplan DL. Tensan Silk-Inspired Hierarchical Fibers for Smart Textile Applications. ACS NANO 2018; 12:6968-6977. [PMID: 29932636 PMCID: PMC6501189 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.8b02430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Tensan silk, a natural fiber produced by the Japanese oak silk moth ( Antherea yamamai, abbreviated to A. yamamai), features superior characteristics, such as compressive elasticity and chemical resistance, when compared to the more common silk produced from the domesticated silkworm, Bombyx mori ( B. mori). In this study, the "structure-property" relationships within A. yamamai silk are disclosed from the different structural hierarchies, confirming the outstanding toughness as dominated by the distinct mesoscale fibrillar architectures. Inspired by this hierarchical construction, we fabricated A. yamamai silk-like regenerated B. mori silk fibers (RBSFs) with mechanical properties (extensibility and modulus) comparable to natural A. yamamai silk. These RBSFs were further functionalized to form conductive RBSFs that were sensitive to force and temperature stimuli for applications in smart textiles. This study provides a blueprint in exploiting rational designs from A. yamanmai, which is rare and expensive in comparison to the common and cost-effective B. mori silk to empower enhanced material properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenwen Zhang
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, Jiangsu Key Lab of Biomass-Based Green Fuel & Chemicals, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Chao Ye
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Ke Zheng
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Jiajia Zhong
- Shanghai Advanced Research Institute (Zhangjiang Lab), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Yuzhao Tang
- Shanghai Advanced Research Institute (Zhangjiang Lab), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Yimin Fan
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, Jiangsu Key Lab of Biomass-Based Green Fuel & Chemicals, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China
| | - Markus J. Buehler
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Shengjie Ling
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai 201210, China
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - David L. Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, 02155, USA
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11
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Yang N, Zhang W, Ye C, Chen X, Ling S. Nanobiopolymers Fabrication and Their Life Cycle Assessments. Biotechnol J 2018; 14:e1700754. [PMID: 29952081 DOI: 10.1002/biot.201700754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2018] [Revised: 06/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Living organisms produced nanopolymers (nanobiopolymers for short), such as nanocellulose, nanochitin, nanosilk, nanostarch, and microbial nanobiopolymers, having received widely scientific and engineering interests in recent years. Compare with petroleum-based polymers, biopolymers are sustainable and biodegradable. The unique structural features that stem from nanosized effects, such as ultrahigh aspect ratio and length-diameter ratio, further endow nanobiopolymers with high transparence and versatile processability. To fabricate these nanobiopolymers, a variety of mechanical, chemical, and synthetic biology techniques have been developed. The applications of the isolated nanobiopolymers have been extended from polymer fillers into wide emerging high-tech fields, such as biomedical devices, bioplastics, display panels, ultrafiltration membranes, energy storage devices, and catalytic supports. Accordingly, in the review, the authors first introduce isolation techniques to fabricate nanocellulose, nanochitin, nanosilk, and nanostarch. Then, the authors summarized the nanobiopolymers produced from biosynthetic pathway, including microbial polyamides, polysaccharides, and polyesters. On the other hand, most of these techniques require high energy consumption and usage of chemical reagents. In this regard, life cycle assessment offered a quantitative route to precisely evaluate and compare environmental benefits of different artificial isolation approaches, which are also summarized in the second section of the review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ningning Yang
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China.,Key Laboratory of Bio-Based Material Science & Technology, Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, China
| | - Wenwen Zhang
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China.,College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China
| | - Chao Ye
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Xue Chen
- School of Entrepreneurship and Management, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Shengjie Ling
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
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Ling S, Kaplan DL, Buehler MJ. Nanofibrils in nature and materials engineering. NATURE REVIEWS. MATERIALS 2018; 3:18016. [PMID: 34168896 PMCID: PMC8221570 DOI: 10.1038/natrevmats.2018.16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 274] [Impact Index Per Article: 45.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Nanofibrillar materials, such as cellulose, chitin and silk, are highly ordered architectures, formed through the self-assembly of repetitive building blocks into higher-order structures, which are stabilized by non-covalent interactions. This hierarchical building principle endows many biological materials with remarkable mechanical strength, anisotropy, flexibility and optical properties, such as structural colour. These features make nanofibrillar biopolymers interesting candidates for the development of strong, sustainable and biocompatible materials for environmental, energy, optical and biomedical applications. However, recreating their architecture is challenging from an engineering perspective. Rational design approaches, applying a combination of theoretical and experimental protocols, have enabled the design of biopolymer-based materials through mimicking nature's multiscale assembly approach. In this Review, we summarize hierarchical design strategies of cellulose, silk and chitin, focusing on nanoconfinement, fibrillar orientation and alignment in 2D and 3D structures. These multiscale architectures are discussed in the context of mechanical and optical properties, and different fabrication strategies for the manufacturing of biopolymer nanofibril-based materials are investigated. We highlight the contribution of rational material design strategies to the development of mechanically anisotropic and responsive materials and examine the future of the material-by-design paradigm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengjie Ling
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA
| | - David L. Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA
- ;
| | - Markus J. Buehler
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Center for Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Center for Computational Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
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Ling S, Qin Z, Li C, Huang W, Kaplan DL, Buehler MJ. Polymorphic regenerated silk fibers assembled through bioinspired spinning. Nat Commun 2017; 8:1387. [PMID: 29123097 PMCID: PMC5680232 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-00613-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2017] [Accepted: 07/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
A variety of artificial spinning methods have been applied to produce regenerated silk fibers; however, how to spin regenerated silk fibers that retain the advantages of natural silks in terms of structural hierarchy and mechanical properties remains challenging. Here, we show a bioinspired approach to spin regenerated silk fibers. First, we develop a nematic silk microfibril solution, highly viscous and stable, by partially dissolving silk fibers into microfibrils. This solution maintains the hierarchical structures in natural silks and serves as spinning dope. It is then spun into regenerated silk fibers by direct extrusion in the air, offering a useful route to generate polymorphic and hierarchical regenerated silk fibers with physical properties beyond natural fiber construction. The materials maintain the structural hierarchy and mechanical properties of natural silks, including a modulus of 11 ± 4 GPa, even higher than natural spider silk. It can further be functionalized with a conductive silk/carbon nanotube coating, responsive to changes in humidity and temperature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengjie Ling
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, 02155, USA
| | - Zhao Qin
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Chunmei Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, 02155, USA
| | - Wenwen Huang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, 02155, USA
| | - David L Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, 02155, USA.
| | - Markus J Buehler
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Seob Jung
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
| | - Markus J. Buehler
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
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Su I, Buehler MJ. Nanomechanics of silk: the fundamentals of a strong, tough and versatile material. NANOTECHNOLOGY 2016; 27:302001. [PMID: 27305929 DOI: 10.1088/0957-4484/27/30/302001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Spider silk is a remarkable material that provides a template for upscaling molecular properties to the macroscale. In this article we review fundamental aspects of the mechanisms behind these behaviors, discuss the molecular makeup, chemical designs, and how these integrate in a complex arrangement to form webs, cocoons and other material architectures. Moreover, this review paper explores the unique ability of silk to tolerate various kinds of defects, in a way enabling this material platform to serve as one of the most resilient materials in nature. We conclude the discussion with a summary of key scaling laws, an attempt model and define hierarchical length-scales, and the translation to synthetic materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle Su
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics (LAMM), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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Chang Y, Chen PY. Hierarchical structure and mechanical properties of snake (Naja atra) and turtle (Ocadia sinensis) eggshells. Acta Biomater 2016; 31:33-49. [PMID: 26607769 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2015.11.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2015] [Revised: 11/10/2015] [Accepted: 11/18/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
After hundreds of million years of evolution, natural armors have evolved in various organisms, and has manifested in diverse forms such as eggshells, abalone shells, alligator osteoderms, turtle shells, and fish scales. Eggshells serve as multifunctional shields for successful embryogenesis, such as protection, moisture control and thermal regulation. Unlike calcareous avian eggshells which are brittle and hard, reptilians have leathery eggshells that are tough and flexible. Reptilian eggshells can withstand collision damages when laid in holes and dropped onto each other, and reduce abrasion caused by buried sand. In this study, we investigate structure and mechanical properties of eggshells of Taiwan cobra snake (Naja atra) and Chinese striped-neck turtle (Ocadia sinensis). From Acid Fuchsin Orange G (AFOG) staining and ATR-FTIR examination, we found that both eggshells are mainly composed of keratin. The mechanical properties of demineralized snake and turtle eggshells were evaluated by tensile and fracture tests and show distinctly difference. Turtle eggshells are relatively stiff and rigid, while snake eggshells behave as elastomers, which are highly extensible and reversible. The exceptional deformability (110-230% tensile strain) and toughness of snake eggshells are contributed by the wavy and random arrangement of keratin fibers as well as collagen layers. Multi-scale toughening mechanisms of snake eggshells were observed and elucidated, including crack deflection and twisting, fibers reorientation, sliding and bridging, inter-laminar shear effect, as well as the α-β phase transition of keratin. Inspirations from the structural and mechanical designs of reptilian eggshells may lead to the synthesis of tough, extensible, lightweight composites which could be further applied in the flexible devices, packaging and bio-medical fields. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE Amniotic eggshells serve as multifunctional shields for successful embryogenesis. The avian eggshells have been extensively studied while there are very few studies on reptilian eggshells and most of them focused on mineralization and embryotic development. For the first time, the hierarchical structure and mechanical properties of snake and turtle eggshells are comprehensively and comparatively studied. Both snake and turtle eggshells are multilayer, hierarchically-structured composites consisting mainly of keratin yet their mechanical behaviors are distinctly different. Turtle eggshells are stiff and rigid, while snake eggshells are highly extensible (>200%) and reversible due to multiple deformation stages, phase transition of keratin and various toughening mechanisms. We believe that this study will make positive scientific impact and interest the broad and multidisciplinary readership.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yin Chang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, 101, Sec. 2, Kuang-Fu Rd., Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan
| | - Po-Yu Chen
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, 101, Sec. 2, Kuang-Fu Rd., Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan.
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Giesa T, Perry CC, Buehler MJ. Secondary Structure Transition and Critical Stress for a Model of Spider Silk Assembly. Biomacromolecules 2016; 17:427-36. [PMID: 26669270 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.5b01246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Spiders spin their silk from an aqueous solution to a solid fiber in ambient conditions. However, to date, the assembly mechanism in the spider silk gland has not been satisfactorily explained. In this paper, we use molecular dynamics simulations to model Nephila clavipes MaSp1 dragline silk formation under shear flow and determine the secondary structure transitions leading to the experimentally observed fiber structures. While no experiments are performed on the silk fiber itself, insights from this polypeptide model can be transferred to the fiber scale. The novelty of this study lies in the calculation of the shear stress (300-700 MPa) required for fiber formation and identification of the amino acid residues involved in the transition. This is the first time that the shear stress has been quantified in connection with a secondary structure transition. By study of molecules containing varying numbers of contiguous MaSp1 repeats, we determine that the smallest molecule size giving rise to a "silk-like" structure contains six polyalanine repeats. Through a probability analysis of the secondary structure, we identify specific amino acids that transition from α-helix to β-sheet. In addition to portions of the polyalanine section, these amino acids include glycine, leucine, and glutamine. The stability of β-sheet structures appears to arise from a close proximity in space of helices in the initial spidroin state. Our results are in agreement with the forces exerted by spiders in the silking process and the experimentally determined global secondary structure of spidroin and pulled MaSp1 silk. Our study emphasizes the role of shear in the assembly process of silk and can guide the design of microfluidic devices that attempt to mimic the natural spinning process and predict molecular requirements for the next generation of silk-based functional materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tristan Giesa
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology , 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Carole C Perry
- Biomolecular and Materials Interface Research Group, Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham Trent University , Clifton Lane, Nottingham NG11 8NS, United Kingdom
| | - Markus J Buehler
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology , 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
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Jordan AM, Korley LTJ. Toward a Tunable Fibrous Scaffold: Structural Development during Uniaxial Drawing of Coextruded Poly(ε-caprolactone) Fibers. Macromolecules 2015. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.5b00370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Alex M. Jordan
- Center for Layered Polymeric Systems, Department of Macromolecular
Science and Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106-7202, United States
| | - LaShanda T. J. Korley
- Center for Layered Polymeric Systems, Department of Macromolecular
Science and Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106-7202, United States
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Barber AH, Lu D, Pugno NM. Extreme strength observed in limpet teeth. J R Soc Interface 2015; 12:20141326. [PMID: 25694539 PMCID: PMC4387522 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2014.1326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 139] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2014] [Accepted: 01/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The teeth of limpets exploit distinctive composite nanostructures consisting of high volume fractions of reinforcing goethite nanofibres within a softer protein phase to provide mechanical integrity when rasping over rock surfaces during feeding. The tensile strength of discrete volumes of limpet tooth material measured using in situ atomic force microscopy was found to range from 3.0 to 6.5 GPa and was independent of sample size. These observations highlight an absolute material tensile strength that is the highest recorded for a biological material, outperforming the high strength of spider silk currently considered to be the strongest natural material, and approaching values comparable to those of the strongest man-made fibres. This considerable tensile strength of limpet teeth is attributed to a high mineral volume fraction of reinforcing goethite nanofibres with diameters below a defect-controlled critical size, suggesting that natural design in limpet teeth is optimized towards theoretical strength limits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asa H Barber
- School of Engineering, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth PO1 3DJ, UK School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UK
| | - Dun Lu
- School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UK
| | - Nicola M Pugno
- Laboratory of Bio-Inspired and Graphene Nanomechanics, Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, Università di Trento, via Mesiano, 77, 38123 Trento, Italy Center for Materials and Microsystems, Fondazione Bruno Kessler, Via Sommarive 18, 38123 Povo (Trento), Italy School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UK
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Zhang H, Scholz AK, de Crevoisier J, Berghezan D, Narayanan T, Kramer EJ, Creton C. Nanocavitation around a crack tip in a soft nanocomposite: A scanning microbeam small angle X-ray scattering study. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014. [DOI: 10.1002/polb.23651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Huan Zhang
- Laboratoire de Sciences et Ingénierie de la Matière Molle; ESPCI Paristech-CNRS-UPMC; 10 rue Vauquelin, 75005 Paris France
| | - Arthur K. Scholz
- Materials Research Laboratory; University of California Santa Barbara; California 93106
- Department of Materials; University of California Santa Barbara; California 93106
| | - Jordan de Crevoisier
- Laboratoire de Sciences et Ingénierie de la Matière Molle; ESPCI Paristech-CNRS-UPMC; 10 rue Vauquelin, 75005 Paris France
| | | | | | - Edward J. Kramer
- Materials Research Laboratory; University of California Santa Barbara; California 93106
- Department of Materials; University of California Santa Barbara; California 93106
- Department of Chemical Engineering; University of California Santa Barbara; California 83106
| | - Costantino Creton
- Laboratoire de Sciences et Ingénierie de la Matière Molle; ESPCI Paristech-CNRS-UPMC; 10 rue Vauquelin, 75005 Paris France
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Hypothesis: bones toughness arises from the suppression of elastic waves. Sci Rep 2014; 4:7538. [PMID: 25518898 PMCID: PMC4269876 DOI: 10.1038/srep07538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2014] [Accepted: 11/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Bone and other natural material exhibit a combination of strength and toughness that far exceeds that of synthetic structural materials. Bone's toughness is a result of numerous extrinsic and intrinsic toughening mechanisms that operate synergistically at multiple length scales to produce a tough material. At the system level however no theory or organizational principle exists to explain how so many individual toughening mechanisms can work together. In this paper, we utilize the concept of phonon localization to explain, at the system level, the role of hierarchy, material heterogeneity, and the nanoscale dimensions of biological materials in producing tough composites. We show that phonon localization and attenuation, using a simple energy balance, dynamically arrests crack growth, prevents the cooperative growth of cracks, and allows for multiple toughening mechanisms to work simultaneously in heterogeneous materials. In turn, the heterogeneous, hierarchal, and multiscale structure of bone (which is generic to biological materials such as bone and nacre) can be rationalized because of the unique ability of such a structure to localize phonons of all wavelengths.
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Chen CT, Ghosh S, Malla Reddy C, Buehler MJ. Molecular mechanics of elastic and bendable caffeine co-crystals. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2014; 16:13165-71. [DOI: 10.1039/c3cp55117b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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