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Functionalization of the living diatom Thalassiosira weissflogii with thiol moieties
Biomineralization processes have inspired the design of synthetic silica structures in vitro. Here, the authors use a living diatom to fabricate organo-silica constructs and are able to incorporate thiol moieties into the diatom frustule without the loss of nano-scale architectural features.
- Yvonne Lang
- , Francisco del Monte
- & Abhay Pandit
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Mechanical adaptability of the Bouligand-type structure in natural dermal armour
The scales of Arapaima gigas, a fresh water fish found in the Amazon Basin, act as effective armour against predators. Here, Zimmermann et al. elucidate the deformation mechanisms that allow for this resistance, concluding that lamellae in the scales reorient under an applied load, preventing fracture.
- Elizabeth A. Zimmermann
- , Bernd Gludovatz
- & Robert O. Ritchie
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| Open AccessSuper liquid-repellent gas membranes for carbon dioxide capture and heart–lung machines
Membranes allowing transfer of a gas between a liquid and gas layer have applications in areas such as blood oxygenation and carbon dioxide capture. Here, a super liquid repellent membrane is fabricated, allowing high gas transfer and also avoiding wetting and clogging of the membrane pores.
- Maxime Paven
- , Periklis Papadopoulos
- & Hans-Jürgen Butt
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Interfacial assembly of protein–polymer nano-conjugates into stimulus-responsive biomimetic protocells
Proteins are ideal building blocks for self-assembly of artificial cell-like architectures, but their realization is rare. Huang et al.report an interfacial assembly of protein–polymer conjugates, which exhibit cellular properties such as encapsulating guest molecules and switching enzyme activity.
- Xin Huang
- , Mei Li
- & Stephen Mann
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Hyperthin nanochains composed of self-polymerizing protein shackles
The sophisticated structure of protein fibrils suggests that they may be useful nanomaterials. Here the authors design a series of self-polymerizing protein monomers, the reactions of which are controlled by redox chemistry, and show that functional units may also be incorporated into the extended structures.
- Ryo Matsunaga
- , Saeko Yanaka
- & Kouhei Tsumoto
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Impact tolerance in mussel thread networks by heterogeneous material distribution
The ability of mussels to remain attached to rocks and the hulls of ships in the presence of impacting waves is surprising. Qin et al. show that a heterogeneous distribution of specific load-bearing materials in the attaching threads allows for this firm adhesion.
- Zhao Qin
- & Markus J. Buehler
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Promotion of oxygen reduction by a bio-inspired tethered iron phthalocyanine carbon nanotube-based catalyst
The rational design of inexpensive and durable oxygen reduction catalysts may lead to enhanced fuel cell performance. Here, the authors report a bio-inspired catalyst in which hybridization of iron 3delectrons with a carbon nanotube alters its electronic structure and improves catalytic performance.
- Ruiguo Cao
- , Ranjit Thapa
- & Jaephil Cho
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Cortical responses elicited by photovoltaic subretinal prostheses exhibit similarities to visually evoked potentials
Visual prosthetics based on photovoltaic devices have been proposed to allow the functional restoration of lost sight. Mandel et al. assess the retinal responses to implanted retinal prosthetics in rats with degenerate retinas and find that they elicit responses in the visual cortex when stimulated by light.
- Yossi Mandel
- , Georges Goetz
- & Daniel Palanker
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Flexible polymer transistors with high pressure sensitivity for application in electronic skin and health monitoring
Flexible pressure sensors may be key in realising biomedical prostheses and robots that can interact with their environment. Here, Schwartz et al.report an organic thin film pressure sensing device that combines fast response times with low power consumption and cyclic stability.
- Gregor Schwartz
- , Benjamin C.-K. Tee
- & Zhenan Bao
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Article
| Open AccessMolecular mechanics of mineralized collagen fibrils in bone
Bone is a natural composite of collagen and hydroxyapatite but, surprising, little is known about its characteristics at the molecular scale. Nair et al. conduct molecular-scale simulations of mineralized collagen networks to better understand how bone achieves superior mechanical properties to its constituents.
- Arun K. Nair
- , Alfonso Gautieri
- & Markus J. Buehler
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A bio-inspired swellable microneedle adhesive for mechanical interlocking with tissue
Conventional adhesives stick poorly to wet tissue because water severely undermines the adhesive chemicals they rely on. To overcome this, Yang et al. develop a bio-inspired adhesive microneedle array whose tips swell on contact with water, forming a mechanical bond to living tissue.
- Seung Yun Yang
- , Eoin D. O'Cearbhaill
- & Jeffrey M. Karp
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Self-shaping composites with programmable bioinspired microstructures
Many living organisms use materials that are capable of changing their shape in response to changes in the environment. Erb et al. demonstrate an approach to synthesizing artificial shape-changing composites that replicate such behaviour.
- Randall M. Erb
- , Jonathan S. Sander
- & André R. Studart
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Evidence for a material gradient in the adhesive tarsal setae of the ladybird beetle Coccinella septempunctata
Many insects cling to surfaces by means of specific bristles on the tips of their legs. Peisker et al. show that in the beetle Coccinella septempunctatathe composition and stiffness of these bristles vary dramatically along their length, likely allowing for a better grip to uneven surfaces.
- Henrik Peisker
- , Jan Michels
- & Stanislav N. Gorb
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Perceiving invisible light through a somatosensory cortical prosthesis
Primary sensory areas of newborn mammals typically display input-dependent plasticity. Thomson and colleagues use a sensory prosthetic device in rats to show that adult rats can discriminate different infrared light signals, when the signals are routed to somatosensory cortex by electrical microstimulation.
- Eric E. Thomson
- , Rafael Carra
- & Miguel A.L. Nicolelis
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Blood-clotting-inspired reversible polymer–colloid composite assembly in flow
Blood clotting is caused by biopolymer-mediated aggregation of platelets and is enhanced by fast shear flows. Chen et al. find a similar process that arises during the self-assembly of polymer–colloid composites—a process that can be controlled and even reversed by flow rate and interparticle interaction.
- Hsieh Chen
- , Mohammad A. Fallah
- & Alfredo Alexander-Katz
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Delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs in tumour cell-derived microparticles
Microparticles are small vesicular structures that are shed from cellular plasma membranes. Tang and colleagues show that cells treated with chemotherapeutic drugs produce drug-containing microparticles, which can be used as anticancer agents in mice.
- Ke Tang
- , Yi Zhang
- & Bo Huang
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Bioinspired hollow semiconductor nanospheres as photosynthetic nanoparticles
Photosynthesis occurs at the thylakoid membrane, which acts as a scaffold, precisely arranging functional proteins and electron carriers. Sunet al.synthesize hollow photosynthetic nanospheres that function as light-harvesting antennae and structured scaffolds that improve photoredox catalysis.
- Jianhua Sun
- , Jinshui Zhang
- & Xinchen Wang
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Solderable and electroplatable flexible electronic circuit on a porous stretchable elastomer
The integration of flexible electronics with conventional devices has been hampered by the lack of suitable soldering techniques able to withstand stretching. Jeonget al. use a porous substrate to fabricate biocompatible, stretchable electronics that can be interfaced with commercial components.
- Gi Seok Jeong
- , Dong-Hyun Baek
- & Sang-Hoon Lee
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Biomimetic layer-by-layer assembly of artificial nacre
Nacre is an organic–inorganic composite biomaterial, which consists of an ordered multilayer structure of crystalline calcium carbonate platelets separated by porous organic layers. Finnemoreet al. present a route to artificial nacre which mimics the natural layer-by-layer biosynthesis.
- Alexander Finnemore
- , Pedro Cunha
- & Ullrich Steiner
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| Open AccessEnamel-like apatite crown covering amorphous mineral in a crayfish mandible
The compositional makeup of skeletons and teeth in invertebrates and vertebrates is generally different. This study examines the material composition and properties of freshwater crayfish mandibles and finds, in an unusual case of convergent evolution, that they are composed of an apatite layer that is similar to mammalian enamel.
- Shmuel Bentov
- , Paul Zaslansky
- & Barbara Aichmayer
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Graphene-based wireless bacteria detection on tooth enamel
Graphene is characterized by unique physical properties that offer substantial promise, most notably for electronic applications. Mannooret al. present a wireless graphene-based sensor for detecting bacteria on a range of biological tissues.
- Manu S. Mannoor
- , Hu Tao
- & Michael C. McAlpine
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Integrated photosystem II-based photo-bioelectrochemical cells
The photosynthetic reaction centres, photosystems I and II, have been investigated for the light-induced generation of fuels and electrical power. Now, Yehezkeliet al. report a photobiofuel cell that generates electricity upon irradiation of photosystem II-functionalized electrodes in aqueous solutions.
- Omer Yehezkeli
- , Ran Tel-Vered
- & Itamar Willner
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| Open AccessSelf-assembly of amorphous calcium carbonate microlens arrays
Biological materials efficiently exploit self-assembly of simple constituents to produce complex functional structures such as optical devices. By controlling organic molecules, Leeet al. show fast two-step self-assembly of CaCO3microlens arrays, reminiscent of their biological counterparts.
- Kyubock Lee
- , Wolfgang Wagermaier
- & Peter Fratzl
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Review Article |
Trends in the development of environmentally friendly fouling-resistant marine coatings
Biofouling, or the unwanted growth of biological organisms, is a particular problem in marine environments. This review considers recent advances in the development of environmentally friendly coatings to combat biofouling of submerged surfaces.
- James A. Callow
- & Maureen E. Callow
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A hybrid bioorganic interface for neuronal photoactivation
Interfacing neurons with artificial functional materials could aid the development of neurological prosthetic devices. Here, primary neurons are incorporated into a polymer layer without adversely affecting their properties; the advance may contribute to the development of artificial retinas.
- Diego Ghezzi
- , Maria Rosa Antognazza
- & Guglielmo Lanzani