1
|
Honerkamp-Smith AR. Forces and Flows at Cell Surfaces. J Membr Biol 2023; 256:331-340. [PMID: 37773346 PMCID: PMC10947748 DOI: 10.1007/s00232-023-00293-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
|
2
|
Li C, Schramma N, Wang Z, Qari NF, Jalaal M, Latz MI, Cai S. Ultrasensitive and robust mechanoluminescent living composites. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadi8643. [PMID: 37862415 PMCID: PMC10588950 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adi8643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
Mechanosensing, the transduction of extracellular mechanical stimuli into intracellular biochemical signals, is a fundamental property of living cells. However, endowing synthetic materials with mechanosensing capabilities comparable to biological levels is challenging. Here, we developed ultrasensitive and robust mechanoluminescent living composites using hydrogels embedded with dinoflagellates, unicellular microalgae with a near-instantaneous and ultrasensitive bioluminescent response to mechanical stress. Not only did embedded dinoflagellates retain their intrinsic mechanoluminescence, but with hydrophobic coatings, living composites had a lifetime of ~5 months under harsh conditions with minimal maintenance. We 3D-printed living composites into large-scale mechanoluminescent structures with high spatial resolution, and we also enhanced their mechanical properties with double-network hydrogels. We propose a counterpart mathematical model that captured experimental mechanoluminescent observations to predict mechanoluminescence based on deformation and applied stress. We also demonstrated the use of the mechanosensing composites for biomimetic soft actuators that emitted colored light upon magnetic actuation. These mechanosensing composites have substantial potential in biohybrid sensors and robotics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chenghai Li
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Nico Schramma
- Van der Waals-Zeeman Institute, Institute of Physics, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, Amsterdam 1098XH, Netherlands
| | - Zijun Wang
- Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Nada F. Qari
- Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Maziyar Jalaal
- Van der Waals-Zeeman Institute, Institute of Physics, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, Amsterdam 1098XH, Netherlands
| | - Michael I. Latz
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Shengqiang Cai
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Liu D, Li L, Yin G, Chen T. A dinoflagellate-inspired mechanochromic film for fast and reversible information encryption and display. Chem Commun (Camb) 2022; 58:13791-13794. [PMID: 36441635 DOI: 10.1039/d2cc05697f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Inspired by dinoflagellates, we developed a flexible film consisting of spiropyran-based soft polyacrylate and Zn(OTf)2. The open-ring form of spiropyran coordinated with Zn(OTf)2 under stretching to produce a visible fluorescent color change from colorless to yellow. The potential of this film was demonstrated for fast and reversible information encryption and decryption.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Depeng Liu
- Key Laboratory of Marine Materials and Related Technologies, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Marine Materials and Protective Technologies, Ningbo Institute of Material Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo 315201, China. .,School of Chemical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Longqiang Li
- Key Laboratory of Marine Materials and Related Technologies, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Marine Materials and Protective Technologies, Ningbo Institute of Material Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo 315201, China. .,College of Material Sciences and Opto-Electronic Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Guangqiang Yin
- Key Laboratory of Marine Materials and Related Technologies, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Marine Materials and Protective Technologies, Ningbo Institute of Material Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo 315201, China. .,School of Chemical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Tao Chen
- Key Laboratory of Marine Materials and Related Technologies, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Marine Materials and Protective Technologies, Ningbo Institute of Material Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo 315201, China. .,School of Chemical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Li C, He Q, Wang Y, Wang Z, Wang Z, Annapooranan R, Latz MI, Cai S. Highly robust and soft biohybrid mechanoluminescence for optical signaling and illumination. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3914. [PMID: 35798737 PMCID: PMC9263131 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31705-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Biohybrid is a newly emerging and promising approach to construct soft robotics and soft machines with novel functions, high energy efficiency, great adaptivity and intelligence. Despite many unique advantages of biohybrid systems, it is well known that most biohybrid systems have a relatively short lifetime, require complex fabrication process, and only remain functional with careful maintenance. Herein, we introduce a simple method to create a highly robust and power-free soft biohybrid mechanoluminescence, by encapsulating dinoflagellates, bioluminescent unicellular marine algae, into soft elastomeric chambers. The dinoflagellates retain their intrinsic bioluminescence, which is a near-instantaneous light response to mechanical forces. We demonstrate the robustness of various geometries of biohybrid mechanoluminescent devices, as well as potential applications such as visualizing external mechanical perturbations, deformation-induced illumination, and optical signaling in a dark environment. Our biohybrid mechanoluminescent devices are ultra-sensitive with fast response time and can maintain their light emission capability for weeks without special maintenance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chenghai Li
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Qiguang He
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Yang Wang
- Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Zhijian Wang
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Zijun Wang
- Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Raja Annapooranan
- Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Michael I Latz
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Shengqiang Cai
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA. .,Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Bioluminescence and Photoreception in Unicellular Organisms: Light-Signalling in a Bio-Communication Perspective. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222111311. [PMID: 34768741 PMCID: PMC8582858 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222111311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Bioluminescence, the emission of light catalysed by luciferases, has evolved in many taxa from bacteria to vertebrates and is predominant in the marine environment. It is now well established that in animals possessing a nervous system capable of integrating light stimuli, bioluminescence triggers various behavioural responses and plays a role in intra- or interspecific visual communication. The function of light emission in unicellular organisms is less clear and it is currently thought that it has evolved in an ecological framework, to be perceived by visual animals. For example, while it is thought that bioluminescence allows bacteria to be ingested by zooplankton or fish, providing them with favourable conditions for growth and dispersal, the luminous flashes emitted by dinoflagellates may have evolved as an anti-predation system against copepods. In this short review, we re-examine this paradigm in light of recent findings in microorganism photoreception, signal integration and complex behaviours. Numerous studies show that on the one hand, bacteria and protists, whether autotrophs or heterotrophs, possess a variety of photoreceptors capable of perceiving and integrating light stimuli of different wavelengths. Single-cell light-perception produces responses ranging from phototaxis to more complex behaviours. On the other hand, there is growing evidence that unicellular prokaryotes and eukaryotes can perform complex tasks ranging from habituation and decision-making to associative learning, despite lacking a nervous system. Here, we focus our analysis on two taxa, bacteria and dinoflagellates, whose bioluminescence is well studied. We propose the hypothesis that similar to visual animals, the interplay between light-emission and reception could play multiple roles in intra- and interspecific communication and participate in complex behaviour in the unicellular world.
Collapse
|
6
|
Abstract
All living cells interact dynamically with a constantly changing world. Eukaryotes, in particular, evolved radically new ways to sense and react to their environment. These advances enabled new and more complex forms of cellular behaviour in eukaryotes, including directional movement, active feeding, mating, and responses to predation. But what are the key events and innovations during eukaryogenesis that made all of this possible? Here we describe the ancestral repertoire of eukaryotic excitability and discuss five major cellular innovations that enabled its evolutionary origin. The innovations include a vastly expanded repertoire of ion channels, the emergence of cilia and pseudopodia, endomembranes as intracellular capacitors, a flexible plasma membrane and the relocation of chemiosmotic ATP synthesis to mitochondria, which liberated the plasma membrane for more complex electrical signalling involved in sensing and reacting. We conjecture that together with an increase in cell size, these new forms of excitability greatly amplified the degrees of freedom associated with cellular responses, allowing eukaryotes to vastly outperform prokaryotes in terms of both speed and accuracy. This comprehensive new perspective on the evolution of excitability enriches our view of eukaryogenesis and emphasizes behaviour and sensing as major contributors to the success of eukaryotes. This article is part of the theme issue 'Basal cognition: conceptual tools and the view from the single cell'.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kirsty Y. Wan
- Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Gáspár Jékely
- Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Nguyen BQH, Maksymov IS, Suslov SA. Acoustic frequency combs using gas bubble cluster oscillations in liquids: a proof of concept. Sci Rep 2021; 11:38. [PMID: 33420180 PMCID: PMC7794338 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-79567-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
We propose a new approach to the generation of acoustic frequency combs (AFC)-signals with spectra containing equidistant coherent peaks. AFCs are essential for a number of sensing and measurement applications, where the established technology of optical frequency combs suffers from fundamental physical limitations. Our proof-of-principle experiments demonstrate that nonlinear oscillations of a gas bubble cluster in water insonated by a low-pressure single-frequency ultrasound wave produce signals with spectra consisting of equally spaced peaks originating from the interaction of the driving ultrasound wave with the response of the bubble cluster at its natural frequency. The so-generated AFC posses essential characteristics of optical frequency combs and thus, similar to their optical counterparts, can be used to measure various physical, chemical and biological quantities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bui Quoc Huy Nguyen
- Optical Sciences Centre, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC, 3122, Australia
| | - Ivan S Maksymov
- Optical Sciences Centre, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC, 3122, Australia.
| | - Sergey A Suslov
- Department of Mathematics, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC, 3122, Australia
| |
Collapse
|