1
|
Xie W, Dhinojwala A, Gianneschi NC, Shawkey MD. Interactions of Melanin with Electromagnetic Radiation: From Fundamentals to Applications. Chem Rev 2024; 124:7165-7213. [PMID: 38758918 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
Melanin, especially integumentary melanin, interacts in numerous ways with electromagnetic radiation, leading to a set of critical functions, including radiation protection, UV-protection, pigmentary and structural color productions, and thermoregulation. By harnessing these functions, melanin and melanin-like materials can be widely applied to diverse applications with extraordinary performance. Here we provide a unified overview of the melanin family (all melanin and melanin-like materials) and their interactions with the complete electromagnetic radiation spectrum (X-ray, Gamma-ray, UV, visible, near-infrared), which until now has been absent from the literature and is needed to establish a solid fundamental base to facilitate their future investigation and development. We begin by discussing the chemistries and morphologies of both natural and artificial melanin, then the fundamentals of melanin-radiation interactions, and finally the exciting new developments in high-performance melanin-based functional materials that exploit these interactions. This Review provides both a comprehensive overview and a discussion of future perspectives for each subfield of melanin that will help direct the future development of melanin from both fundamental and applied perspectives.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wanjie Xie
- Department of Biology, Evolution and Optics of Nanostructure Group, University of Ghent, Gent 9000, Belgium
| | - Ali Dhinojwala
- School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, United States
| | - Nathan C Gianneschi
- Department of Chemistry, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Simpson-Querrey Institute, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Lurie Cancer Center, and International Institute of Nanotechnology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Matthew D Shawkey
- Department of Biology, Evolution and Optics of Nanostructure Group, University of Ghent, Gent 9000, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Saint-Sardos A, Aish A, Tchakarov N, Bourgoin T, Petit LM, Sun JS, Vignes-Lebbe R. Bioinspire-Explore: Taxonomy-Driven Exploration of Biodiversity Data for Bioinspired Innovation. Biomimetics (Basel) 2024; 9:63. [PMID: 38392109 PMCID: PMC10886457 DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics9020063] [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: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Successful bioinspired design depends on practitioners' access to biological data in a relevant form. Although multiple open-access biodiversity databases exist, their presentation is often adapted to life scientists, rather than bioinspired designers. In this paper, we present a new tool, "Bioinspire-Explore", for navigating biodiversity data in order to uncover biological systems of interest for a range of sectors. Bioinspire-Explore allows users to search for inspiring biological models via taxa (species, genera, etc.) as an entry point. It provides information on a taxon's position in the "tree of life", its distribution and climatic niche, as well as its appearance. Bioinspire-Explore also shows users connections in the bioinspiration literature between their taxon of interest and associated biological processes, habitats, and physical measurements by way of their semantic proximity. We believe Bioinspire-Explore has the potential to become an indispensable resource for both biologists and bioinspired designers in different fields.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adrien Saint-Sardos
- Centre d'Études et d'Expertises en Biomimétisme de Senlis (CEEBIOS), 62 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Martin, 60300 Senlis, France
| | - Annabelle Aish
- Bioinspire-Museum, Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 57 rue Cuvier, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Nikolay Tchakarov
- Centre d'Études et d'Expertises en Biomimétisme de Senlis (CEEBIOS), 62 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Martin, 60300 Senlis, France
| | - Thierry Bourgoin
- Sorbonne Université, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, EPHE, Université des Antilles, Institut de Systématique Évolution Biodiversité, ISYEB, CP 48, 57 Rue Cuvier, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Luce-Marie Petit
- Centre d'Études et d'Expertises en Biomimétisme de Senlis (CEEBIOS), 62 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Martin, 60300 Senlis, France
| | - Jian-Sheng Sun
- Bioinspire-Museum, Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 57 rue Cuvier, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Régine Vignes-Lebbe
- Sorbonne Université, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, EPHE, Université des Antilles, Institut de Systématique Évolution Biodiversité, ISYEB, CP 48, 57 Rue Cuvier, 75005 Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Koch SM, Freidank-Pohl C, Siontas O, Cortesao M, Mota A, Runzheimer K, Jung S, Rebrosova K, Siler M, Moeller R, Meyer V. Aspergillus niger as a cell factory for the production of pyomelanin, a molecule with UV-C radiation shielding activity. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1233740. [PMID: 37547691 PMCID: PMC10399693 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1233740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanins are complex pigments with various biological functions and potential applications in space exploration and biomedicine due to their radioprotective properties. Aspergillus niger, a fungus known for its high radiation resistance, is widely used in biotechnology and a candidate for melanin production. In this study, we investigated the production of fungal pyomelanin (PyoFun) in A. niger by inducing overproduction of the pigment using L-tyrosine in a recombinant ΔhmgA mutant strain (OS4.3). The PyoFun pigment was characterized using three spectroscopic methods, and its antioxidant properties were assessed using a DPPH-assay. Additionally, we evaluated the protective effect of PyoFun against non-ionizing radiation (monochromatic UV-C) and compared its efficacy to a synthetically produced control pyomelanin (PyoSyn). The results confirmed successful production of PyoFun in A. niger through inducible overproduction. Characterization using spectroscopic methods confirmed the presence of PyoFun, and the DPPH-assay demonstrated its strong antioxidant properties. Moreover, PyoFun exhibited a highly protective effect against radiation-induced stress, surpassing the protection provided by PyoSyn. The findings of this study suggest that PyoFun has significant potential as a biological shield against harmful radiation. Notably, PyoFun is synthesized extracellularly, differing it from other fungal melanins (such as L-DOPA- or DHN-melanin) that require cell lysis for pigment purification. This characteristic makes PyoFun a valuable resource for biotechnology, biomedicine, and the space industry. However, further research is needed to evaluate its protective effect in a dried form and against ionizing radiation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stella Marie Koch
- Radiation Biology Department, Aerospace Microbiology Research Group, German Aerospace Center, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Cologne, Germany
| | - Carsten Freidank-Pohl
- Applied and Molecular Microbiology, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Oliver Siontas
- Applied and Molecular Microbiology, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marta Cortesao
- Radiation Biology Department, Aerospace Microbiology Research Group, German Aerospace Center, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Cologne, Germany
| | - Afonso Mota
- Radiation Biology Department, Aerospace Microbiology Research Group, German Aerospace Center, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Cologne, Germany
| | - Katharina Runzheimer
- Radiation Biology Department, Aerospace Microbiology Research Group, German Aerospace Center, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Cologne, Germany
| | - Sascha Jung
- Applied and Molecular Microbiology, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Katarina Rebrosova
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University (MUNI) and St. Anne's Faculty Hospital, Brno, Czechia
| | - Martin Siler
- Institute of Scientific Instruments of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czechia
| | - Ralf Moeller
- Radiation Biology Department, Aerospace Microbiology Research Group, German Aerospace Center, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Cologne, Germany
| | - Vera Meyer
- Applied and Molecular Microbiology, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Beeson W, Gabriel K, Cornelison C. Fungi as a source of eumelanin: current understanding and prospects. J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 50:kuad014. [PMID: 37336591 PMCID: PMC10569377 DOI: 10.1093/jimb/kuad014] [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: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
Melanins represent a diverse collection of pigments with a variety of structures and functions. One class of melanin, eumelanin, is recognizable to most as the source of the dark black color found in cephalopod ink. Sepia officinalis is the most well-known and sought-after source of non-synthetic eumelanin, but its harvest is limited by the availability of cuttlefish, and its extraction from an animal source brings rise to ethical concerns. In recent years, these limitations have become more pressing as more applications for eumelanin are developed-particularly in medicine and electronics. This surge in interest in the applications of eumelanin has also fueled a rise in the interest of alternative, bio-catalyzed production methods. Many culinarily-utilized fungi are ideal candidates in this production scheme, as examples exist which have been shown to produce eumelanin, their growth at large scales is well understood, and they can be cultivated on recaptured waste streams. However, much of the current research on the fungal production of eumelanin focuses on pathogenic fungi and eumelanin's role in virulence. In this paper, we will review the potential for culinary fungi to produce eumelanin and provide suggestions for new research areas that would be most impactful in the search for improved fungal eumelanin producers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- William Beeson
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Kennesaw State
University, 1000 Chastain Road NW, Kennesaw, GA
30144, USA
| | - Kyle Gabriel
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Kennesaw State
University, 1000 Chastain Road NW, Kennesaw, GA
30144, USA
| | - Christopher Cornelison
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Kennesaw State
University, 1000 Chastain Road NW, Kennesaw, GA
30144, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Tessaro APG, de Araujo LG, Silva TT, Coelho E, Corrêa B, Rolindo NC, Vicente R. Prospects for fungal bioremediation of unburied waste packages from the Goiânia radiological accident. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:41045-41059. [PMID: 36627427 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-25247-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Goiânia, the Goiás State capital, starred in 1987, where one of the largest radiological accidents in the world happened. A teletherapy machine was subtracted from a derelict radiotherapy clinic and disassembled by scavengers who distributed fragments of the 50 TBq 137CsCl source among relatives and acquaintances, enchanted by the blue shine of the substance. During the 15 days before the accident was acknowledged, contaminated recycling materials were delivered to recycling factories in four cities in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, in the form of recycling paper bales. The contaminated bales were spotted, collected, and stored in fifty 1.6 m3 steel boxes at the interim storage facility of the Nuclear and Energy Research Institute (IPEN). In 2017, a check of the content was performed in a few boxes and the presence of high moisture content was observed even though the bales were dry when conditioned and the packages were kept sealed since then. The main objective of this work was to report the fungi found in the radioactive waste after they evolved for 30 years in isolation inside the waste boxes and their role in the decay of the waste. Examination of the microbiome showed the presence of nematodes and fungal communities. The fungi species isolated were Aspergillus quadricinctus, Fusarium oxysporum, Lecanicillium coprophilumi, Scedosporium boydii, Scytalidium lignicola, Xenoacremonium recifei, and Pleurostoma richardsiae. These microorganisms showed a significant capacity to digest cellulose in our trials, which could be one of the ways they survive in such a harsh environment, reducing the volume of radioactive paper waste. These metabolic abilities give us a future perspective of using these fungi in biotechnology to remediate radioactively contaminated materials, particularly cellulose-based waste.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Paula Gimenes Tessaro
- Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas E Nucleares, IPEN/CNEN, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 2242, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Leandro Goulart de Araujo
- Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas E Nucleares, IPEN/CNEN, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 2242, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil.
- Current Affiliation, Université de Lorraine, CNRS, 88000, Epinal, IJL, France.
| | - Thalita Tieko Silva
- Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas E Nucleares, IPEN/CNEN, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 2242, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Ednei Coelho
- Microbiology Department, University of Sao Paulo, Av. Professor Lineu Prestes, São Paulo, 1374, Brazil
| | - Benedito Corrêa
- Microbiology Department, University of Sao Paulo, Av. Professor Lineu Prestes, São Paulo, 1374, Brazil
| | - Natalie Costa Rolindo
- Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas E Nucleares, IPEN/CNEN, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 2242, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Roberto Vicente
- Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas E Nucleares, IPEN/CNEN, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 2242, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Fungi are key players in extreme ecosystems. Trends Ecol Evol 2022; 37:517-528. [PMID: 35246323 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2022.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Extreme environments on Earth are typically devoid of macro life forms and are inhabited predominantly by highly adapted and specialized microorganisms. The discovery and persistence of these extremophiles provides tools to model how life arose on Earth and inform us on the limits of life. Fungi, in particular, are among the most extreme-tolerant organisms with highly versatile lifestyles and stunning ecological and morphological plasticity. Here, we overview the most notable examples of extremophilic and stress-tolerant fungi, highlighting their key roles in the functionality and balance of extreme ecosystems. The remarkable ability of fungi to tolerate and even thrive in the most extreme environments, which preclude most organisms, have reshaped current concepts regarding the limits of life on Earth.
Collapse
|
7
|
Traxler L, Shrestha J, Richter M, Krause K, Schäfer T, Kothe E. Metal adaptation and transport in hyphae of the wood-rot fungus Schizophyllum commune. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 425:127978. [PMID: 34896706 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 11/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Fungi living in heavy metals and radionuclides contaminated environments, namely the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone need to be able to cope with these pollutants. In this study, the wood-rot fungus Schizophyllum commune was investigated for its metal tolerance mechanisms, and for its ability to transport such metals through its hyphae. Effects of temperature and pH on tolerance of Cs, Sr, Cd, and Zn were tested. At concentrations allowing for half-maximal growth, adapted strains were raised. The strontium-adapted strain, S. commune 12-43 Sr, showed transport of specifically Sr over distances on a cm-scale using split plates. The adaptation did not yield changes in cell or colony morphology. Intracellular metal localization was not changed, and gene expression profiles under metal stress growing on soil versus artificial medium showed a higher impact of a structured surface for growth on soil than with different metal concentrations. In the transcriptome, transporter genes were mostly down-regulated, while up-regulation was seen for genes involved in the secretory pathway under metal stress. A comparison of wildtype and adapted strains could confirm lower cellular stress levels leading to lack of glutathione S-transferase up-regulation in the adapted strain. Thus, we could show metal transport as well as specific mechanisms in metal stress avoidance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lea Traxler
- Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Neugasse 25, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Jenny Shrestha
- Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Neugasse 25, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Martin Richter
- Institute of Geosciences, Applied Geology, Friedrich Schiller University, Burgweg 11, 07749 Jena, Germany
| | - Katrin Krause
- Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Neugasse 25, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Thorsten Schäfer
- Institute of Geosciences, Applied Geology, Friedrich Schiller University, Burgweg 11, 07749 Jena, Germany
| | - Erika Kothe
- Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Neugasse 25, 07743 Jena, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Liu B, Fu R, Wu B, Liu X, Xiang M. Rock-inhabiting fungi: terminology, diversity, evolution and adaptation mechanisms. Mycology 2022; 13:1-31. [PMID: 35186410 PMCID: PMC8856086 DOI: 10.1080/21501203.2021.2002452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Rock-inhabiting fungi (RIF) constitute an ecological group associated with terrestrial rocks. This association is generally restricted to the persistent colonisation of rocks and peculiar morphological features based on melanisation and slow growth, which endow RIF with significance in eukaryotic biology, special status in ecology, and exotic potential in biotechnology. There is a need to achieve a better understanding of the hidden biodiversity, antistress biology, origin and convergent evolution of RIF, which will facilitate cultural relic preservation, exploitation of the biogeochemical cycle of rock elements and biotechnology applications. This review focuses on summarising the current knowledge of rock-inhabiting fungi, with particular reference to terminology, biodiversity and geographic distribution, origin and evolution, and stress adaptation mechanisms. We especially teased out the definition through summing up the terms related to rock-inhabting fungi, and also provided a checklist of rock-inhabiting fungal taxa recorded following updated classification schemes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bingjie Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Rong Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Bing Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xingzhong Liu
- Department of Microbiology, College of Life Science, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Meichun Xiang
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Slominski RM, Sarna T, Płonka PM, Raman C, Brożyna AA, Slominski AT. Melanoma, Melanin, and Melanogenesis: The Yin and Yang Relationship. Front Oncol 2022; 12:842496. [PMID: 35359389 PMCID: PMC8963986 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.842496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 56.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanin pigment plays a critical role in the protection against the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation and other environmental stressors. It is produced by the enzymatic transformation of L-tyrosine to dopaquinone and subsequent chemical and biochemical reactions resulting in the formation of various 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid (DHICA) and 5,6-dihydroxyindole (DHI) oligomers-main constituents of eumelanin, and benzothiazine and benzothiazole units of pheomelanin. The biosynthesis of melanin is regulated by sun exposure and by many hormonal factors at the tissue, cellular, and subcellular levels. While the presence of melanin protects against the development of skin cancers including cutaneous melanoma, its presence may be necessary for the malignant transformation of melanocytes. This shows a complex role of melanogenesis in melanoma development defined by chemical properties of melanin and the nature of generating pathways such as eu- and pheomelanogenesis. While eumelanin is believed to provide radioprotection and photoprotection by acting as an efficient antioxidant and sunscreen, pheomelanin, being less photostable, can generate mutagenic environment after exposure to the short-wavelength UVR. Melanogenesis by itself and its highly reactive intermediates show cytotoxic, genotoxic, and mutagenic activities, and it can stimulate glycolysis and hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α) activation, which, combined with their immunosuppressive effects, can lead to melanoma progression and resistance to immunotherapy. On the other hand, melanogenesis-related proteins can be a target for immunotherapy. Interestingly, clinicopathological analyses on advanced melanomas have shown a negative correlation between tumor pigmentation and diseases outcome as defined by overall survival and disease-free time. This indicates a "Yin and Yang" role for melanin and active melanogenesis in melanoma development, progression, and therapy. Furthermore, based on the clinical, experimental data and diverse effects of melanogenesis, we propose that inhibition of melanogenesis in advanced melanotic melanoma represents a realistic adjuvant strategy to enhance immuno-, radio-, and chemotherapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Radomir M Slominski
- Graduate Biomedical Sciences Program, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Tadeusz Sarna
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Przemysław M Płonka
- Department of Biophysics and Cancer Biology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Chander Raman
- Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Anna A Brożyna
- Department of Human Biology, Institute of Biology, Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń, Poland
| | - Andrzej T Slominski
- Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States.,Pathology Laboratory Service, Veteran Administration Medical Center at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Borg AM, Baker JE. Contemporary biomedical engineering perspective on volitional evolution for human radiotolerance enhancement beyond low-earth orbit. Synth Biol (Oxf) 2021; 6:ysab023. [PMID: 34522784 PMCID: PMC8434797 DOI: 10.1093/synbio/ysab023] [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: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
A primary objective of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is expansion of humankind's presence outside low-Earth orbit, culminating in permanent interplanetary travel and habitation. Having no inherent means of physiological detection or protection against ionizing radiation, humans incur capricious risk when journeying beyond low-Earth orbit for long periods. NASA has made large investments to analyze pathologies from space radiation exposure, emphasizing the importance of characterizing radiation's physiological effects. Because natural evolution would require many generations to confer resistance against space radiation, immediately pragmatic approaches should be considered. Volitional evolution, defined as humans steering their own heredity, may inevitably retrofit the genome to mitigate resultant pathologies from space radiation exposure. Recently, uniquely radioprotective genes have been identified, conferring local or systemic radiotolerance when overexpressed in vitro and in vivo. Aiding in this process, the CRISPR/Cas9 technique is an inexpensive and reproducible instrument capable of making limited additions and deletions to the genome. Although cohorts can be identified and engineered to protect against radiation, alternative and supplemental strategies should be seriously considered. Advanced propulsion and mild synthetic torpor are perhaps the most likely to be integrated. Interfacing artificial intelligence with genetic engineering using predefined boundary conditions may enable the computational modeling of otherwise overly complex biological networks. The ethical context and boundaries of introducing genetically pioneered humans are considered.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander M Borg
- Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Radiation Oncology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - John E Baker
- Radiation Biosciences Laboratory, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Vasileiou T, Summerer L. Correction: A biomimetic approach to shielding from ionizing radiation: The case of melanized fungi. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0257068. [PMID: 34464431 PMCID: PMC8407553 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0257068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
|
12
|
Understanding the way eumelanin works: A unique example of properties and skills driven by molecular heterogeneity. POLYMER 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2021.123952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
|
13
|
Vasileiou T, Llorens JM, Buencuerpo J, Ripalda JM, Izzo D, Summerer L. Light absorption enhancement and radiation hardening for triple junction solar cell through bioinspired nanostructures. BIOINSPIRATION & BIOMIMETICS 2021; 16:056010. [PMID: 34102615 DOI: 10.1088/1748-3190/ac095b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Multi-junction solar cells constitute the main source of power for space applications. However, exposure of solar cells to the space radiation environment significantly degrades their performance across the mission lifetime. Here, we seek to improve the radiation hardness of the triple junction solar cell, GaInP/Ga(In)As/Ge, by decreasing the thickness of the more sensitive middle junction. Thin junctions facilitate the collection of minority carriers and show slower degradation due to defects. However, thinning the junction decreases the absorption, and consequently, the expected photocurrent. To compensate for this loss, we examined two bioinspired surface patterns that exhibit anti-reflective and light-trapping properties: (a) the moth-eye structure which enables vision in poorly illuminated environments and (b) the patterns of the hard cell of a unicellular photosynthetic micro-alga, the diatoms. We parametrize and optimize the biomimetic structures, aiming to maximize the absorbed light by the solar cell while achieving significant reduction in the middle junction thickness. The density of the radiation-induced defects is independent of the junction thickness, as we demonstrate using Monte Carlo simulations, allowing the direct comparison of different combinations of middle junction thicknesses and light trapping structures. We incorporate the radiation effects into the solar cell model as a decrease in minority carrier lifetime and an increase in surface recombination velocity, and we quantify the gain in efficiency for different combinations of junction thickness and the light-trapping structure at equal radiation damage. Solar cells with thin junctions compensated by the light-trapping structures offer a promising approach to improve solar cell radiation hardness and robustness, with up to 2% higher end-of-life efficiency than the commonly used configuration at high radiation exposure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Vasileiou
- Advanced Concepts Team, European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC), 2201AZ Noordwijk, The Netherlands
| | - José M Llorens
- Instituto de Micro y Nanotecnología, IMN-CNM, CSIC (CEI UAM + CSIC) Isaac Newton, 8, E-28760, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jerónimo Buencuerpo
- Instituto de Micro y Nanotecnología, IMN-CNM, CSIC (CEI UAM + CSIC) Isaac Newton, 8, E-28760, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - José M Ripalda
- Instituto de Micro y Nanotecnología, IMN-CNM, CSIC (CEI UAM + CSIC) Isaac Newton, 8, E-28760, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Dario Izzo
- Advanced Concepts Team, European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC), 2201AZ Noordwijk, The Netherlands
| | - Leopold Summerer
- Advanced Concepts Team, European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC), 2201AZ Noordwijk, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|