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Zheng Y, Li X, Liu P, Chen Y, Guo C. The Flexible Armor of Chinese Sturgeon: Potential Contribution of Fish Skin on Fracture Toughness and Flexural Response. Biomimetics (Basel) 2023; 8:232. [PMID: 37366827 DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics8020232] [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: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Fish skin is a biological material with high flexibility and compliance and can provide good mechanical protection against sharp punctures. This unusual structural function makes fish skin a potential biomimetic design model for flexible, protective, and locomotory systems. In this work, tensile fracture tests, bending tests, and calculation analyses were conducted to study the toughening mechanism of sturgeon fish skin, the bending response of the whole Chinese sturgeon, and the effect of bony plates on the flexural stiffness of the fish body. Morphological observations showed some placoid scales with drag-reduction functions on the skin surface of the Chinese sturgeon. The mechanical tests revealed that the sturgeon fish skin displayed good fracture toughness. Moreover, flexural stiffness decreased gradually from the anterior region to the posterior region of the fish body, which means that the posterior region (near the tail) had higher flexibility. Under large bending deformation, the bony plates had a specific inhibition effect on the bending deformation of the fish body, especially in the posterior region of the fish body. Furthermore, the test results of the dermis-cut samples showed that the sturgeon fish skin had a significant impact on flexural stiffness, and the fish skin could act as an external tendon to promote effective swimming motion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zheng
- College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Suqian University, Suqian 223800, China
| | - Xin Li
- College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Suqian University, Suqian 223800, China
| | - Ping Liu
- College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Suqian University, Suqian 223800, China
| | - Ying Chen
- College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Suqian University, Suqian 223800, China
| | - Ce Guo
- Institute of Bio-Inspired Structure and Surface Engineering, College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, China
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2
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Guo M, Wu S, Zhao J, Zhuang J, Wu Q. Characterization of the structural and mechanical properties of pinecone fish (Monocentris japonica) scales. Microsc Res Tech 2023; 86:589-599. [PMID: 36715138 DOI: 10.1002/jemt.24297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
In this paper, the microstructure characteristics and mechanical properties (including nano-indentation, tensile, and penetration behaviors) of the scales from pinecone fish (Monocentris japonica) were investigated. The M. japonica scales display a unique hierarchical structure and consist of three layers: an outer bone layer with high mineralization, an intermediate bone layer with obvious pore structures, and an inner collagen layer composed of multiple plies of collagen fibers. The hardness and indentation modulus of the three structural layers exhibit gradient changes, and decrease gradually from the outer layer to the inner layer. Tensile tests show that the tensile response and failure modes of the scales are different under dry and hydrated conditions. The dry scales have higher tensile strength (46.35 MPa) and Young's modulus (0.74 GPa), while the hydrated scales exhibit higher ultimate strain (20.18%) and toughness (4.57 MPa). Penetration tests indicate that the scales have a significantly high resistance to penetration, and increase the penetration force by more than six times compared with the descaled skin. Furthermore, the structure-property relationship of the M. japonica scales was discussed. It is found that the hard outer layer and the porous intermediate layer help to disperse the stress, and the soft inner layer containing collagen fiber plies helps to deflect the crack propagation, which are responsible for the excellent mechanical properties of the scales. The outcome of this study can provide a valuable biomimetic design inspiration for lightweight and high-strength composite materials in engineering fields. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Microstructure characteristics and mechanical properties of the Monocentris japonica scales were investigated. The M. japonica scales can be divided into three layers rather than two layers. The M. japonica scales exhibited high tensile strength and penetration resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingzhuo Guo
- College of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Siyang Wu
- College of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun, China.,Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering (Ministry of Education), Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jiale Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering (Ministry of Education), Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jian Zhuang
- Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering (Ministry of Education), Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Qian Wu
- College of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun, China.,Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering (Ministry of Education), Jilin University, Changchun, China
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3
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Zhang E, Tung CH, Feng L, Zhou YR. Superior Damage Tolerance of Fish Skins. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 16:953. [PMID: 36769958 PMCID: PMC9918016 DOI: 10.3390/ma16030953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Skin is the largest organ of many animals. Its protective function against hostile environments and predatorial attack makes high mechanical strength a vital characteristic. Here, we measured the mechanical properties of bass fish skins and found that fish skins are highly ductile with a rupture strain of up to 30-40% and a rupture strength of 10-15 MPa. The fish skins exhibit a strain-stiffening behavior. Stretching can effectively eliminate the stress concentrations near the pre-existing holes and edge notches, suggesting that the skins are highly damage tolerant. Our measurement determined a flaw-insensitivity length that exceeds those of most engineering materials. The strain-stiffening and damage tolerance of fish skins are explained by an agent-based model of a collagen network in which the load-bearing collagen microfibers assembled from nanofibrils undergo straightening and reorientation upon stretching. Our study inspires the development of artificial skins that are thin, flexible, but highly fracture-resistant and widely applicable in soft robots.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Zhang
- State College Area High School, State College, PA 16801, USA
| | - Chi-Huan Tung
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Luyi Feng
- Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, The Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA 16802, USA
| | - Yu Ren Zhou
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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Gallo N, Terzi A, Sibillano T, Giannini C, Masi A, Sicuro A, Blasi FS, Corallo A, Pennetta A, De Benedetto GE, Montagna F, Maffezzoli A, Sannino A, Salvatore L. Age-Related Properties of Aquaponics-Derived Tilapia Skin ( Oreochromis niloticus): A Structural and Compositional Study. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24031938. [PMID: 36768265 PMCID: PMC9916702 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24031938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
In the last two decades, fisheries and fish industries by-products have started to be recovered for the extraction of type I collagen because of issues related to the extraction of traditional mammalian tissues. In this work, special attention has been paid to by-products from fish bred in aquaponic plants. The valorization of aquaponic fish wastes as sources of biopolymers would make the derived materials eco-friendlier and attractive in terms of profitability and cost effectiveness. Among fish species, Nile Tilapia is the second-most farmed species in the world and its skin is commonly chosen as a collagen extraction source. However, to the best of our knowledge, no studies have been carried out to investigate, in depth, the age-related differences in fish skin with the final aim of selecting the most advantageous fish size for collagen extraction. In this work, the impact of age on the structural and compositional properties of Tilapia skin was evaluated with the aim of selecting the condition that best lends itself to the extraction of type I collagen for biomedical applications, based on the known fact that the properties of the original tissue have a significant impact on those of the final product. Performed analysis showed statistically significant age-related differences. In particular, an increase in skin thickness (+110 µm) and of wavy-like collagen fiber bundle diameter (+3 µm) besides their organization variation was observed with age. Additionally, a preferred collagen molecule orientation along two specific directions was revealed, with a higher fiber orientation degree according to age. Thermal analysis registered a shift of the endothermic peak (+1.7 °C) and an increase in the enthalpy (+3.3 J/g), while mechanical properties were found to be anisotropic, with an age-dependent brittle behavior. Water (+13%) and ash (+0.6%) contents were found to be directly proportional with age, as opposed to protein (-8%) and lipid (-10%) contents. The amino acid composition revealed a decrease in the valine, leucine, isoleucine, and threonine content and an increase in proline and hydroxyproline. Lastly, fatty acids C14:0, C15:0, C16:1, C18:2n6c, C18:3n6, C18:0, C20:3n3, and C23:0 were revealed to be upregulated, while C18:1n9c was downregulated with age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nunzia Gallo
- Department of Engineering for Innovation, University of Salento, Via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Alberta Terzi
- Institute of Crystallography, National Research Council, 70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Teresa Sibillano
- Institute of Crystallography, National Research Council, 70125 Bari, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Cinzia Giannini
- Institute of Crystallography, National Research Council, 70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Annalia Masi
- Department of Engineering for Innovation, University of Salento, Via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Alessandro Sicuro
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, Via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Federica Stella Blasi
- Department of Engineering for Innovation, University of Salento, Via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Angelo Corallo
- Department of Engineering for Innovation, University of Salento, Via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Antonio Pennetta
- Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Salento, Via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | | | - Francesco Montagna
- Department of Engineering for Innovation, University of Salento, Via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Alfonso Maffezzoli
- Department of Engineering for Innovation, University of Salento, Via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Alessandro Sannino
- Department of Engineering for Innovation, University of Salento, Via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Luca Salvatore
- Department of Engineering for Innovation, University of Salento, Via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy
- Typeone Biomaterials Srl, Via Vittorio Veneto, 73036 Muro Leccese, Italy
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Li M, Du C, Wang J, Gao Z, Yang X, Chen D, Tong J, Ren L. Morphology and mechanical performance between the skin surface of
Rana dybowskii
and
Bufo gargarizans. BIOSURFACE AND BIOTRIBOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1049/bsb2.12018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Mo Li
- College of Biological and Agricultural Engineering Jilin University Changchun China
- The Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering Ministry of Education Jilin University Changchun China
| | - Chunyu Du
- College of Biological and Agricultural Engineering Jilin University Changchun China
- The Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering Ministry of Education Jilin University Changchun China
| | - Jili Wang
- School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Jilin University Changchun China
| | - Zibo Gao
- College of Biological and Agricultural Engineering Jilin University Changchun China
- The Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering Ministry of Education Jilin University Changchun China
| | - Xiao Yang
- College of Biological and Agricultural Engineering Jilin University Changchun China
- The Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering Ministry of Education Jilin University Changchun China
| | - Donghui Chen
- College of Biological and Agricultural Engineering Jilin University Changchun China
- The Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering Ministry of Education Jilin University Changchun China
| | - Jin Tong
- College of Biological and Agricultural Engineering Jilin University Changchun China
- The Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering Ministry of Education Jilin University Changchun China
| | - Lili Ren
- College of Biological and Agricultural Engineering Jilin University Changchun China
- The Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering Ministry of Education Jilin University Changchun China
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Li M, Gao Z, Dai T, Chen D, Tong J, Guo L, Wang C. Comparative research on morphology and mechanical property of integument of Rana dybowskii, Xenopus laevis and Ambystoma mexicanum. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2021; 117:104382. [PMID: 33607570 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2021.104382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Revised: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Amphibians' integument is a multifunctional organ offering protection from the exterior surroundings and facilitating the physiological change of gas, water and salts with the environment, which is a natural biomaterial with multifunctional features. Interspecies comparison of biomechanical characters and microstructure possibly related to them were performed on the integument of three species of amphibians, two anurans(Rana dybowskii and Xenopus laevis) and one urodeles(Ambystoma mexicanum) using tensile testing and morphological characterization. It was found that the integument of Rana dybowskii and Xenopus laevis was covered by polygonal epidermal cells, while the trunk surface of Ambystoma mexicanum presented irregular microstructure with the lack of keratinization. The integument of Rana dybowskii and Xenopus laevis exhibited good performance on stiffness and strength, which showed quite high mean elastic modulus, 931MPa and 1048MPa,respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mo Li
- College of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun, 130025, China; The Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130025, China
| | - Zibo Gao
- College of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun, 130025, China; The Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130025, China
| | - Taidong Dai
- College of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun, 130025, China; The Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130025, China
| | - Donghui Chen
- College of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun, 130025, China; The Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130025, China
| | - Jin Tong
- College of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun, 130025, China; The Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130025, China
| | - Li Guo
- College of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun, 130025, China; The Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130025, China
| | - Chaofei Wang
- College of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun, 130025, China; The Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130025, China.
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