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Challita EJ, Rohilla P, Bhamla MS. Fluid ejections in nature. ARXIV 2024:arXiv:2403.02359v1. [PMID: 38495571 PMCID: PMC10942486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
From microscopic fungi to colossal whales, fluidic ejections are a universal and intricate phenomenon in biology, serving vital functions such as animal excretion, venom spraying, prey hunting, spore dispersal, and plant guttation. This review delves into the complex fluid physics of ejections across various scales, exploring both muscle-powered active systems and passive mechanisms driven by gravity or osmosis. We introduce a framework using dimensionless numbers to delineate transitions from dripping to jetting and elucidate the governing forces. Highlighting the understudied area of complex fluid ejections, this work not only rationalizes the biophysics involved but also uncovers potential engineering applications in soft robotics, additive manufacturing, and drug delivery. By bridging biomechanics, the physics of living systems, and fluid dynamics, this review offers valuable insights into the diverse world of fluid ejections and paves the way for future bioinspired research across the spectrum of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elio J Challita
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 311 Ferst Drive NW, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 801 Ferst Drive NW, Atlanta, GA, 30318, USA
| | - Pankaj Rohilla
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 311 Ferst Drive NW, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - M Saad Bhamla
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 311 Ferst Drive NW, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 801 Ferst Drive NW, Atlanta, GA, 30318, USA
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2
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Niekampf M, Meyer P, Quade FSC, Schmidt AR, Salditt T, Bradler S. High disparity in repellent gland anatomy across major lineages of stick and leaf insects (Insecta: Phasmatodea). BMC ZOOL 2024; 9:1. [PMID: 38163865 PMCID: PMC10759571 DOI: 10.1186/s40850-023-00189-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Phasmatodea are well known for their ability to disguise themselves by mimicking twigs, leaves, or bark, and are therefore commonly referred to as stick and leaf insects. In addition to this and other defensive strategies, many phasmatodean species use paired prothoracic repellent glands to release defensive chemicals when disturbed by predators or parasites. These glands are considered as an autapomorphic trait of the Phasmatodea. However, detailed knowledge of the gland anatomy and chemical compounds is scarce and only a few species were studied until now. We investigated the repellent glands for a global sampling of stick and leaf insects that represents all major phasmatodean lineages morphologically via µCT scans and analyzed the anatomical traits in a phylogenetic context. RESULTS All twelve investigated species possess prothoracic repellent glands that we classify into four distinct gland types. 1: lobe-like glands, 2: sac-like glands without ejaculatory duct, 3: sac-like glands with ejaculatory duct and 4: tube-like glands. Lobe-like glands are exclusively present in Timema, sac-like glands without ejaculatory duct are only found in Orthomeria, whereas the other two types are distributed across all other taxa (= Neophasmatodea). The relative size differences of these glands vary significantly between species, with some glands not exceeding in length the anterior quarter of the prothorax, and other glands extending to the end of the metathorax. CONCLUSIONS We could not detect any strong correlation between aposematic or cryptic coloration of the examined phasmatodeans and gland type or size. We hypothesize that a comparatively small gland was present in the last common ancestor of Phasmatodea and Euphasmatodea, and that the gland volume increased independently in subordinate lineages of the Occidophasmata and Oriophasmata. Alternatively, the stem species of Neophasmatodea already developed large glands that were reduced in size several times independently. In any case, our results indicate a convergent evolution of the gland types, which was probably closely linked to properties of the chemical components and different predator selection pressures. Our study is the first showing the great anatomical variability of repellent glands in stick and leaf insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Niekampf
- Department of Animal Evolution and Biodiversity, Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology, University of Göttingen, Untere Karspüle 2, 37073, Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Paul Meyer
- Institute for X-Ray Physics, University of Göttingen, Friedrich-Hund-Platz 1, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Felix S C Quade
- Department of Developmental Biology, Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences, Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology, University of Göttingen, Justus-Von-Liebig-Weg 11, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
- Present address, Institut Für Zelltechnologie, Blücherstraße 63, 18055, Rostock, Germany
| | - Alexander R Schmidt
- Department of Geobiology, University of Göttingen, Goldschmidtstraße 3, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Tim Salditt
- Institute for X-Ray Physics, University of Göttingen, Friedrich-Hund-Platz 1, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Sven Bradler
- Department of Animal Evolution and Biodiversity, Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology, University of Göttingen, Untere Karspüle 2, 37073, Göttingen, Germany
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3
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Rising A, Harrington MJ. Biological Materials Processing: Time-Tested Tricks for Sustainable Fiber Fabrication. Chem Rev 2023; 123:2155-2199. [PMID: 36508546 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
There is an urgent need to improve the sustainability of the materials we produce and use. Here, we explore what humans can learn from nature about how to sustainably fabricate polymeric fibers with excellent material properties by reviewing the physical and chemical aspects of materials processing distilled from diverse model systems, including spider silk, mussel byssus, velvet worm slime, hagfish slime, and mistletoe viscin. We identify common and divergent strategies, highlighting the potential for bioinspired design and technology transfer. Despite the diversity of the biopolymeric fibers surveyed, we identify several common strategies across multiple systems, including: (1) use of stimuli-responsive biomolecular building blocks, (2) use of concentrated fluid precursor phases (e.g., coacervates and liquid crystals) stored under controlled chemical conditions, and (3) use of chemical (pH, salt concentration, redox chemistry) and physical (mechanical shear, extensional flow) stimuli to trigger the transition from fluid precursor to solid material. Importantly, because these materials largely form and function outside of the body of the organisms, these principles can more easily be transferred for bioinspired design in synthetic systems. We end the review by discussing ongoing efforts and challenges to mimic biological model systems, with a particular focus on artificial spider silks and mussel-inspired materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Rising
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge 141 52, Sweden.,Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala 750 07, Sweden
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Corrales-Ureña YR, Schwab F, Ochoa-Martínez E, Benavides-Acevedo M, Vega-Baudrit J, Pereira R, Rischka K, Noeske PLM, Gogos A, Vanhecke D, Rothen-Rutishauser B, Petri-Fink A. Encapsulated salts in velvet worm slime drive its hardening. Sci Rep 2022; 12:19261. [PMID: 36357497 PMCID: PMC9649676 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-23523-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Slime expelled by velvet worms entraps prey insects within seconds in a hardened biopolymer network that matches the mechanical strength of industrial polymers. While the mechanic stimuli-responsive nature and building blocks of the polymerization are known, it is still unclear how the velvet worms' slime hardens so fast. Here, we investigated the slime for the first time, not only after, but also before expulsion. Further, we investigated the slime's micro- and nanostructures in-depth. Besides the previously reported protein nanoglobules, carbohydrates, and lipids, we discovered abundant encapsulated phosphate and carbonate salts. We also detected CO2 bubbles during the hardening of the slime. These findings, along with further observations, suggest that the encapsulated salts in expelled slime rapidly dissolve and neutralize in a baking-powder-like reaction, which seems to accelerate the drying of the slime. The proteins' conformation and aggregation are thus influenced by shear stress and the salts' neutralization reaction, increasing the slime's pH and ionic strength. These insights into the drying process of the velvet worm's slime demonstrate how naturally evolved polymerizations can unwind in seconds, and could inspire new polymers that are stimuli-responsive or fast-drying under ambient conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yendry Regina Corrales-Ureña
- grid.8534.a0000 0004 0478 1713Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Chemin Des Verdiers 4, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland ,grid.7704.40000 0001 2297 4381Faculty of Production Engineering, University of Bremen, Am Fallturm 1, 28359 Bremen, Germany
| | - Fabienne Schwab
- grid.8534.a0000 0004 0478 1713Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Chemin Des Verdiers 4, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Efraín Ochoa-Martínez
- grid.8534.a0000 0004 0478 1713Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Chemin Des Verdiers 4, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Miguel Benavides-Acevedo
- National Laboratory of Nanotechnology LANOTEC - National Center of High Technology CeNAT, 1.3 Km North of the United States Embassy, San José, Costa Rica
| | - José Vega-Baudrit
- National Laboratory of Nanotechnology LANOTEC - National Center of High Technology CeNAT, 1.3 Km North of the United States Embassy, San José, Costa Rica ,grid.10729.3d0000 0001 2166 3813School of Chemistry, National University, Heredia, Costa Rica
| | - Reinaldo Pereira
- National Laboratory of Nanotechnology LANOTEC - National Center of High Technology CeNAT, 1.3 Km North of the United States Embassy, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Klaus Rischka
- grid.461617.30000 0004 0494 8413Adhesive Bonding Technology and Surfaces, Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM, Wiener Straße 12, 28359 Bremen, Germany
| | - Paul-Ludwig Michael Noeske
- grid.461617.30000 0004 0494 8413Adhesive Bonding Technology and Surfaces, Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM, Wiener Straße 12, 28359 Bremen, Germany
| | - Alexander Gogos
- grid.7354.50000 0001 2331 3059EMPA, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Lerchenfeldstrasse 5, CH-9014 St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Dimitri Vanhecke
- grid.8534.a0000 0004 0478 1713Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Chemin Des Verdiers 4, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Barbara Rothen-Rutishauser
- grid.8534.a0000 0004 0478 1713Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Chemin Des Verdiers 4, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Alke Petri-Fink
- grid.8534.a0000 0004 0478 1713Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Chemin Des Verdiers 4, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland ,grid.8534.a0000 0004 0478 1713Department of Chemistry, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 9, CH-1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
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5
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Liu K, Wan D, Wang W, Fei C, Zhou T, Guo D, Bai L, Li Y, Ni Z, Lu J. A Time-Division Position-Sensitive Detector Image System for High-Speed Multitarget Trajectory Tracking. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2022; 34:e2206638. [PMID: 36114665 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202206638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
High-speed trajectory tracking with real-time processing capability is particularly important in the fields of pilotless automobiles, guidance systems, robotics, and filmmaking. The conventional optical approach to high-speed trajectory tracking involves charge coupled device (CCD) or complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensors, which suffer from trade-offs between resolution and framerates, complexity of the system, and enormous data-analysis processes. Here, a high-speed trajectory tracking system is designed by using a time-division position-sensitive detector (TD-PSD) based on a graphene-silicon Schottky heterojunction. Benefiting from the high-speed optoelectronic response and sub-micrometer positional accuracy of the TD-PSD, multitarget real-time trajectory tracking is realized, with a maximum image output framerate of up to 62 000 frames per second. Moreover, multichannel trajectory tracking and image-distortion correction functionalities are realized by TD-PSD systems through frequency-related image preprocessing, which significantly improves the capacity of real-time information processing and image quality in complicated light environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaiyang Liu
- School of Physics, Frontiers Science Center for Mobile Information Communication and Security, Quantum Information Research Center, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China
| | - Dongyang Wan
- School of Physics, Frontiers Science Center for Mobile Information Communication and Security, Quantum Information Research Center, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China
| | - Wenhui Wang
- School of Physics, Frontiers Science Center for Mobile Information Communication and Security, Quantum Information Research Center, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China
| | - Cheng Fei
- Shandong University, Center for Optics Research and Engineering, Qingdao, Shandong, 266237, P. R. China
| | - Tao Zhou
- School of Physics, Frontiers Science Center for Mobile Information Communication and Security, Quantum Information Research Center, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China
| | - Dingli Guo
- School of Physics, Frontiers Science Center for Mobile Information Communication and Security, Quantum Information Research Center, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China
| | - Lin Bai
- School of Physics, Frontiers Science Center for Mobile Information Communication and Security, Quantum Information Research Center, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China
| | - Yongfu Li
- Shandong University, Center for Optics Research and Engineering, Qingdao, Shandong, 266237, P. R. China
| | - Zhenhua Ni
- School of Physics, Frontiers Science Center for Mobile Information Communication and Security, Quantum Information Research Center, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China
- Purple Mountain Laboratories, Nanjing, 211111, China
| | - Junpeng Lu
- School of Physics, Frontiers Science Center for Mobile Information Communication and Security, Quantum Information Research Center, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China
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Lutz TM, Kimna C, Casini A, Lieleg O. Bio-based and bio-inspired adhesives from animals and plants for biomedical applications. Mater Today Bio 2022; 13:100203. [PMID: 35079700 PMCID: PMC8777159 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2022.100203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 01/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
With the "many-headed" slime mold Physarum polycelphalum having been voted the unicellular organism of the year 2021 by the German Society of Protozoology, we are reminded that a large part of nature's huge variety of life forms is easily overlooked - both by the general public and researchers alike. Indeed, whereas several animals such as mussels or spiders have already inspired many scientists to create novel materials with glue-like properties, there is much more to discover in the flora and fauna. Here, we provide an overview of naturally occurring slimy substances with adhesive properties and categorize them in terms of the main chemical motifs that convey their stickiness, i.e., carbohydrate-, protein-, and glycoprotein-based biological glues. Furthermore, we highlight selected recent developments in the area of material design and functionalization that aim at making use of such biological compounds for novel applications in medicine - either by conjugating adhesive motifs found in nature to biological or synthetic macromolecules or by synthetically creating (multi-)functional materials, which combine adhesive properties with additional, problem-specific (and sometimes tunable) features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theresa M. Lutz
- School of Engineering and Design, Department of Materials Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Boltzmannstraße 15, Garching, 85748, Germany
- Center for Protein Assemblies, Technical University of Munich, Ernst-Otto-Fischer Str. 8, Garching, 85748, Germany
| | - Ceren Kimna
- School of Engineering and Design, Department of Materials Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Boltzmannstraße 15, Garching, 85748, Germany
- Center for Protein Assemblies, Technical University of Munich, Ernst-Otto-Fischer Str. 8, Garching, 85748, Germany
| | - Angela Casini
- Chair of Medicinal and Bioinorganic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Lichtenbergstraße 4, Garching, 85748, Germany
| | - Oliver Lieleg
- School of Engineering and Design, Department of Materials Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Boltzmannstraße 15, Garching, 85748, Germany
- Center for Protein Assemblies, Technical University of Munich, Ernst-Otto-Fischer Str. 8, Garching, 85748, Germany
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7
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Baker CM, Buckman-Young RS, Costa CS, Giribet G. Phylogenomic Analysis of Velvet Worms (Onychophora) Uncovers an Evolutionary Radiation in the Neotropics. Mol Biol Evol 2021; 38:5391-5404. [PMID: 34427671 PMCID: PMC8662635 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msab251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Onychophora ("velvet worms") are charismatic soil invertebrates known for their status as a "living fossil," their phylogenetic affiliation to arthropods, and their distinctive biogeographic patterns. However, several aspects of their internal phylogenetic relationships remain unresolved, limiting our understanding of the group's evolutionary history, particularly with regard to changes in reproductive mode and dispersal ability. To address these gaps, we used RNA sequencing and phylogenomic analysis of transcriptomes to reconstruct the evolutionary relationships and infer divergence times within the phylum. We recovered a fully resolved and well-supported phylogeny for the circum-Antarctic family Peripatopsidae, which retains signals of Gondwanan vicariance and showcases the evolutionary lability of reproductive mode in the family. Within the Neotropical clade of Peripatidae, though, we found that amino acid-translated sequence data masked nearly all phylogenetic signal, resulting in highly unstable and poorly supported relationships. Analyses using nucleotide sequence data were able to resolve many more relationships, though we still saw discordant phylogenetic signal between genes, probably indicative of a rapid, mid-Cretaceous radiation in the group. Finally, we hypothesize that the unique reproductive mode of placentotrophic viviparity found in all Neotropical peripatids may have facilitated the multiple inferred instances of over-water dispersal and establishment on oceanic islands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin M Baker
- Museum of Comparative Zoology, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Rebecca S Buckman-Young
- Museum of Comparative Zoology, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Cristiano S Costa
- Laboratório de Sistemática e Taxonomia de Artrópodes Terrestres, Departamento de Biologia e Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Brazil
| | - Gonzalo Giribet
- Museum of Comparative Zoology, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
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8
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Rühs PA, Bergfreund J, Bertsch P, Gstöhl SJ, Fischer P. Complex fluids in animal survival strategies. SOFT MATTER 2021; 17:3022-3036. [PMID: 33729256 DOI: 10.1039/d1sm00142f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Animals have evolved distinctive survival strategies in response to constant selective pressure. In this review, we highlight how animals exploit flow phenomena by manipulating their habitat (exogenous) or by secreting (endogenous) complex fluids. Ubiquitous endogenous complex fluids such as mucus demonstrate rheological versatility and are therefore involved in many animal behavioral traits ranging from sexual reproduction to protection against predators. Exogenous complex fluids such as sand can be used either for movement or for predation. In all cases, time-dependent rheological properties of complex fluids are decisive for the fate of the biological behavior and vice versa. To exploit these rheological properties, it is essential that the animal is able to sense the rheology of their surrounding complex fluids in a timely fashion. As timing is key in nature, such rheological materials often have clearly defined action windows matching the time frame of their direct biological behavior. As many rheological properties of these biological materials remain poorly studied, we demonstrate with this review that rheology and material science might provide an interesting quantitative approach to study these biological materials in particular in context towards ethology and bio-mimicking material design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick A Rühs
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, 218 Hearst Memorial Mining Building, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA
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9
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Cerullo AR, Lai TY, Allam B, Baer A, Barnes WJP, Barrientos Z, Deheyn DD, Fudge DS, Gould J, Harrington MJ, Holford M, Hung CS, Jain G, Mayer G, Medina M, Monge-Nájera J, Napolitano T, Espinosa EP, Schmidt S, Thompson EM, Braunschweig AB. Comparative Animal Mucomics: Inspiration for Functional Materials from Ubiquitous and Understudied Biopolymers. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2020; 6:5377-5398. [DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.0c00713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Antonio R. Cerullo
- The PhD Program in Biochemistry, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10016, United States
- The Advanced Science Research Center, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 85 St. Nicholas Terrace, New York, New York 10031, United States
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Hunter College, 695 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Tsoi Ying Lai
- The Advanced Science Research Center, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 85 St. Nicholas Terrace, New York, New York 10031, United States
| | - Bassem Allam
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794-5000, United States
| | - Alexander Baer
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Biology, University of Kassel, Heinrich-Plett-Strasse 40, 34132 Kassel, Germany
| | - W. Jon P. Barnes
- Centre for Cell Engineering, Joseph Black Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland, U.K
| | - Zaidett Barrientos
- Laboratorio de Ecología Urbana, Universidad Estatal a Distancia, Mercedes de Montes de Oca, San José 474-2050, Costa Rica
| | - Dimitri D. Deheyn
- Marine Biology Research Division-0202, Scripps Institute of Oceanography, UCSD, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Douglas S. Fudge
- Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University, 1 University Drive, Orange, California 92866, United States
| | - John Gould
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, New South Wales 2308, Australia
| | - Matthew J. Harrington
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, Quebec H3A 0B8, Canada
| | - Mandë Holford
- The PhD Program in Biochemistry, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10016, United States
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Hunter College, 695 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10065, United States
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, The American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York 10024, United States
- The PhD Program in Chemistry, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10016, United States
- The PhD Program in Biology, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10016, United States
| | - Chia-Suei Hung
- Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio 45433, United States
| | - Gaurav Jain
- Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University, 1 University Drive, Orange, California 92866, United States
| | - Georg Mayer
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Biology, University of Kassel, Heinrich-Plett-Strasse 40, 34132 Kassel, Germany
| | - Mónica Medina
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, 208 Mueller Lab, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Julian Monge-Nájera
- Laboratorio de Ecología Urbana, Universidad Estatal a Distancia, Mercedes de Montes de Oca, San José 474-2050, Costa Rica
| | - Tanya Napolitano
- The PhD Program in Biochemistry, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10016, United States
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Hunter College, 695 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Emmanuelle Pales Espinosa
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794-5000, United States
| | - Stephan Schmidt
- Institute of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Universitätsstrasse 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Eric M. Thompson
- Sars Centre for Marine Molecular Biology, Thormøhlensgt. 55, 5020 Bergen, Norway
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, N-5006 Bergen, Norway
| | - Adam B. Braunschweig
- The PhD Program in Biochemistry, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10016, United States
- The Advanced Science Research Center, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 85 St. Nicholas Terrace, New York, New York 10031, United States
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Hunter College, 695 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10065, United States
- The PhD Program in Chemistry, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10016, United States
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10
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Kim W, Lee W, Choi H, Lee G, Son J, Lee SW, Park J, Kim W, Kim M, Yoon DS, Bang D, Na S, Park J. Bioinspired Micro Glue Threads Fabricated by Liquid Bridge-to-Solidification as an Effective Sensing Platform. ACS Sens 2020; 5:1977-1986. [PMID: 32573204 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.0c00378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Spiders synthesize their web using a liquid bridge-to-solidification mechanism at the end of their glands. Inspired by this process, in this work, we fabricated micro-glue threads (μGTs, polymer microwires) by a simple "pinch and spread" process using just two fingertips. The μGTs exhibited excellent tensile strength (∼50 GPa), comparable to those of spider silk and biological fibers. The chemical, physical, and mechanical properties of the μGTs were investigated, and it was confirmed that the thickness of the μGTs could be controlled by ethanol treatment in varying concentrations. Moreover, electrically conductive μGTs were easily fabricated by simply mixing them with various nanomaterials such as gold nanoparticles, zinc oxide nanowires, and reduced graphene oxide (rGO). Interestingly, the conductive μGTs, fabricated using rGO, exhibited remarkable electrical conductivity (0.45 μS) compared to those fabricated using other materials. The conductive μGTs are applicable not only to NO2 gas sensing but also as electrical fuselike materials that melt when the humidity increases. Collectively, the results present μGTs as cost-effective, simple, and versatile materials, which enables their application in a variety of sensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Woong Kim
- Department of Control and Instrumentation Engineering, Korea University, Sejong 30019, Republic of Korea
| | - Wonseok Lee
- Department of Control and Instrumentation Engineering, Korea University, Sejong 30019, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyunsung Choi
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Gyudo Lee
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Korea University, Sejong 30019, Republic of Korea
| | - Jongsang Son
- Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States
| | - Sang Won Lee
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Joohyung Park
- Department of Control and Instrumentation Engineering, Korea University, Sejong 30019, Republic of Korea
| | - Woochang Kim
- Department of Control and Instrumentation Engineering, Korea University, Sejong 30019, Republic of Korea
| | - Minwoo Kim
- Department of Control and Instrumentation Engineering, Korea University, Sejong 30019, Republic of Korea
| | - Dae Sung Yoon
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Doyeon Bang
- Korea Institute of Medical Microrobotics, Gwangju 61011, Republic of Korea
| | - Sungsoo Na
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinsung Park
- Department of Control and Instrumentation Engineering, Korea University, Sejong 30019, Republic of Korea
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11
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Baer A, Schmidt S, Mayer G, Harrington MJ. Fibers on the Fly: Multiscale Mechanisms of Fiber Formation in the Capture Slime of Velvet Worms. Integr Comp Biol 2019; 59:1690-1699. [DOI: 10.1093/icb/icz048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Many organisms have evolved a capacity to form biopolymeric fibers outside their bodies for functions such as defense, prey capture, attachment, and protection. In particular, the adhesive capture slime of onychophorans (velvet worms) is remarkable for its ability to rapidly form stiff fibers through mechanical drawing. Notably, fibers that are formed ex vivo from extracted slime can be dissolved in water and new fibers can be drawn from the solution, indicating that fiber formation is encoded in the biomolecules that comprise the slime. This review highlights recent findings on the biochemical and physicochemical principles guiding this circular process in the Australian onychophoran Euperipatoides rowelli. A multiscale cross-disciplinary approach utilizing techniques from biology, biochemistry, physical chemistry, and materials science has revealed that the slime is a concentrated emulsion of nanodroplets comprised primarily of proteins, stabilized via electrostatic interactions, possibly in a coacervate phase. Upon mechanical agitation, droplets coalesce, leading to spontaneous self-assembly and fibrillation of proteins—a completely reversible process. Recent investigations highlight the importance of subtle transitions in protein structure and charge balance. These findings have clear relevance for better understanding this adaptive prey capture behavior and providing inspiration toward sustainable polymer processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Baer
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Biology, University of Kassel, Heinrich-Plett-Str. 40, Kassel, Germany
| | - Stephan Schmidt
- Institute of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Universitätsstr. 1, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Georg Mayer
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Biology, University of Kassel, Heinrich-Plett-Str. 40, Kassel, Germany
| | - Matthew J Harrington
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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12
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Orb weaver glycoprotein is a smart biological material, capable of repeated adhesion cycles. Naturwissenschaften 2019; 106:10. [DOI: 10.1007/s00114-019-1607-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2018] [Revised: 02/05/2019] [Accepted: 02/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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13
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Schuster S. Hunting in archerfish - an ecological perspective on a remarkable combination of skills. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 221:221/24/jeb159723. [PMID: 30530768 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.159723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Archerfish are well known for using jets of water to dislodge distant aerial prey from twigs or leaves. This Review gives a brief overview of a number of skills that the fish need to secure prey with their shooting technique. Archerfish are opportunistic hunters and, even in the wild, shoot at artificial objects to determine whether these are rewarding. They can detect non-moving targets and use efficient search strategies with characteristics of human visual search. Their learning of how to engage targets can be remarkably efficient and can show impressive degrees of generalization, including learning from observation. In other cases, however, the fish seem unable to learn and it requires some understanding of the ecological and biophysical constraints to appreciate why. The act of shooting has turned out not to be of a simple all-or-none character. Rather, the fish adjust the volume of water fired according to target size and use fine adjustments in the timing of their mouth opening and closing manoeuvre to adjust the hydrodynamic stability of their jets to target distance. As soon as prey is dislodged and starts falling, the fish make rapid and yet sophisticated multi-dimensional decisions to secure their prey against many intraspecific and interspecific competitors. Although it is not known why and how archerfish evolved an ability to shoot in the first place, I suggest that the evolution of shooting has strongly pushed the co-evolution of diverse other skills that are needed to secure a catch.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Schuster
- Department of Animal Physiology, University of Bayreuth, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany
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14
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Abstract
Here, we report a new concept of both the adhesive manner and material, named “adhesive leaf (AL),” based on the leaf of the plant Heteropanax fragrans. The treatment of the corona discharge on the leaf surface can cause the nano-/microdestruction of the leaf epidermis, resulting in an outward release of sap. The glucose-containing sap provided the AL with a unique ability to stick to various substrates such as steel, polypropylene, and glass. Moreover, we reveal that the AL adhesion strength depends on the AL size, as well as the corona-discharge intensity. Conventional adhesives, such as glue and bond, lose their adhesive property and leave dirty residues upon the removal of the attached material. Unlike the conventional methods, the AL is advantageous as it can be repeatedly attached and detached thoroughly until the sap liquid is exhausted; its adhesive ability is maintained for at least three weeks at room temperature. Our findings shed light on a new concept of a biodegradable adhesive material that is created by a simple surface treatment.
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15
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Baer A, Schmidt S, Haensch S, Eder M, Mayer G, Harrington MJ. Mechanoresponsive lipid-protein nanoglobules facilitate reversible fibre formation in velvet worm slime. Nat Commun 2017; 8:974. [PMID: 29042549 PMCID: PMC5645397 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-01142-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2017] [Accepted: 08/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Velvet worms eject a fluid capture slime that can be mechanically drawn into stiff biopolymeric fibres. Remarkably, these fibres can be dissolved by extended exposure to water, and new regenerated fibres can be drawn from the dissolved fibre solution-indicating a fully recyclable process. Here, we perform a multiscale structural and compositional investigation of this reversible fabrication process with the velvet worm Euperipatoides rowelli, revealing that biopolymeric fibre assembly is facilitated via mono-disperse lipid-protein nanoglobules. Shear forces cause nanoglobules to self-assemble into nano- and microfibrils, which can be drawn into macroscopic fibres with a protein-enriched core and lipid-rich coating. Fibre dissolution in water leads to re-formation of nanoglobules, suggesting that this dynamic supramolecular assembly of mechanoresponsive protein-building blocks is mediated by reversible non-covalent interactions. These findings offer important mechanistic insights into the role of mechanochemical processes in bio-fibre formation, providing potential avenues for sustainable material fabrication processes.Velvet worms expel a fluid slime that, under shear force, forms stiff fibres that can be dissolved and then regenerated. Here, the authors reveal that the recyclability of these biopolymers relies on mechanoresponsive lipid-protein nanoglobules in the slime that reversibly self-assemble into fibrils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Baer
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Biology, University of Kassel, Heinrich-Plett-Str. 40, 34132, Kassel, Germany.
| | - Stephan Schmidt
- Institute of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Sebastian Haensch
- Center for Advanced Imaging (CAi), Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Michaela Eder
- Dept. of Biomaterials, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Research Campus Golm, 14424, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Georg Mayer
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Biology, University of Kassel, Heinrich-Plett-Str. 40, 34132, Kassel, Germany
| | - Matthew J Harrington
- Dept. of Biomaterials, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Research Campus Golm, 14424, Potsdam, Germany. .,Dept. of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, QC, H3A 0B8, Canada.
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16
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Garwood RJ, Edgecombe GD, Charbonnier S, Chabard D, Sotty D, Giribet G. Carboniferous Onychophora from Montceau-les-Mines, France, and onychophoran terrestrialization. INVERTEBRATE BIOLOGY : A QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY AND THE DIVISION OF INVERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY/ASZ 2016; 135:179-190. [PMID: 27708504 PMCID: PMC5042098 DOI: 10.1111/ivb.12130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The geological age of the onychophoran crown-group, and when the group came onto land, have been sources of debate. Although stem-group Onychophora have been identified from as early as the Cambrian, the sparse record of terrestrial taxa from before the Cretaceous is subject to contradictory interpretations. A Late Carboniferous species from the Mazon Creek biota of the USA, Helenodora inopinata, originally interpreted as a crown-group onychophoran, has recently been allied to early Cambrian stem-group taxa. Here we describe a fossil species from the Late Carboniferous Montceau-les-Mines Lagerstätte, France, informally referred to as an onychophoran for more than 30 years. The onychophoran affinities of Antennipatus montceauensis gen. nov., sp. nov. are indicated by the form of the trunk plicae and the shape and spacing of their papillae, details of antennal annuli, and the presence of putative slime papillae. The poor preservation of several key systematic characters for extant Onychophora, however, prohibits the precise placement of the Carboniferous fossil in the stem or crown of the two extant families, or the onychophoran stem-group as a whole. Nevertheless, A. montceauensis is the most compelling candidate to date for a terrestrial Paleozoic onychophoran.
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Affiliation(s)
- Russell J. Garwood
- School of Earth, Atmospheric and Environmental SciencesThe University of ManchesterManchesterM13 9PLUK
- Department of Earth SciencesThe Natural History MuseumLondonSW7 5BDUK
| | | | - Sylvain Charbonnier
- Département Histoire de la TerreMuséum national d'Histoire naturelle, ParisF‐75005ParisFrance
| | | | - Daniel Sotty
- Muséum d'Histoire naturelle d'AutunF‐71400AutunFrance
| | - Gonzalo Giribet
- Museum of Comparative Zoology and Department of Organismic and Evolutionary BiologyHarvard UniversityCambridgeMassachusetts02138USA
- Department of Life SciencesThe Natural History MuseumLondonSW7 5BDUK
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Amarpuri G, Zhang C, Diaz C, Opell BD, Blackledge TA, Dhinojwala A. Spiders Tune Glue Viscosity to Maximize Adhesion. ACS NANO 2015; 9:11472-8. [PMID: 26513350 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.5b05658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Adhesion in humid conditions is a fundamental challenge to both natural and synthetic adhesives. Yet, glue from most spider species becomes stickier as humidity increases. We find the adhesion of spider glue, from five diverse spider species, maximizes at very different humidities that matches their foraging habitats. By using high-speed imaging and spreading power law, we find that the glue viscosity varies over 5 orders of magnitude with humidity for each species, yet the viscosity at maximal adhesion for each species is nearly identical, 10(5)-10(6) cP. Many natural systems take advantage of viscosity to improve functional response, but spider glue's humidity responsiveness is a novel adaptation that makes the glue stickiest in each species' preferred habitat. This tuning is achieved by a combination of proteins and hygroscopic organic salts that determines water uptake in the glue. We therefore anticipate that manipulation of polymer-salts interaction to control viscosity can provide a simple mechanism to design humidity responsive smart adhesives.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Brent D Opell
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech , Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
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