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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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2
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Cosgrove DJ. Building an extensible cell wall. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 189:1246-1277. [PMID: 35460252 PMCID: PMC9237729 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiac184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
This article recounts, from my perspective of four decades in this field, evolving paradigms of primary cell wall structure and the mechanism of surface enlargement of growing cell walls. Updates of the structures, physical interactions, and roles of cellulose, xyloglucan, and pectins are presented. This leads to an example of how a conceptual depiction of wall structure can be translated into an explicit quantitative model based on molecular dynamics methods. Comparison of the model's mechanical behavior with experimental results provides insights into the molecular basis of complex mechanical behaviors of primary cell wall and uncovers the dominant role of cellulose-cellulose interactions in forming a strong yet extensible network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Cosgrove
- Department of Biology, Penn State University, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
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Horbelt N, Fratzl P, Harrington MJ. Mistletoe viscin: a hygro- and mechano-responsive cellulose-based adhesive for diverse material applications. PNAS NEXUS 2022; 1:pgac026. [PMID: 36712808 PMCID: PMC9802232 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgac026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 04/23/2023]
Abstract
Mistletoe viscin is a natural cellulosic adhesive consisting of hierarchically organized cellulose microfibrils (CMFs) surrounded by a humidity-responsive matrix that enables mechanical drawing into stiff and sticky fibers. Here, we explored the processability and adhesive capacity of viscin and demonstrated its potential as a source material for various material applications, as well as a source for bioinspired design. Specifically, we revealed that viscin fibers exhibit humidity-activated self-adhesive properties that enable "contact welding" into complex 2D and 3D architectures under ambient conditions. We additionally discovered that viscin can be processed into stiff and transparent free-standing films via biaxial stretching in the hydrated state, followed by drying, whereby CMFs align along local stress fields. Furthermore, we determined that viscin adheres strongly to both synthetic materials (metals, plastics, and glass) and biological tissues, such as skin and cartilage. In particular, skin adhesion makes viscin a compelling candidate as a wound sealant, as we further demonstrate. These findings highlight the enormous potential of this hygro- and mechano-responsive fiber-reinforced adhesive for bioinspired and biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nils Horbelt
- Department of Biomaterials, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Potsdam 14424, Germany
| | - Peter Fratzl
- Department of Biomaterials, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Potsdam 14424, Germany
| | - Matthew J Harrington
- To whom correspondence should be addressed: Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, Quebec H3A 0B8, Canada.
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Mylo MD, Hofmann M, Balle F, Beisel S, Speck T, Speck O. Biomechanics of the parasite-host interaction of the European mistletoe. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2022; 73:1204-1221. [PMID: 34849736 PMCID: PMC8866656 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erab518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
The European mistletoe (Viscum album) is an epiphytic hemiparasite that attaches to its host by an endophytic system. Two aspects are essential for its survival: the structural integrity of the host-parasite interface must be maintained during host growth and the functional integrity of the interface must be maintained during ontogeny and under mechanical stress. We investigated the mechanical properties of the mistletoe-host interaction. Intact and sliced mistletoe-host samples, with host wood as reference, were subjected to tensile tests up to failure. We quantified the rough fractured surface by digital microscopy and analysed local surface strains by digital image correlation. Tensile strength and deformation energy were independent of mistletoe age but exhibited markedly lower values than host wood samples. Cracks initiated at sites with a major strain of about 30%, especially along the mistletoe-host interface. The risk of sudden failure was counteracted by various sinkers and a lignification gradient that smooths the differences in the mechanical properties between the two species. Our results improve the understanding of the key mechanical characteristics of the host-mistletoe interface and show that the mechanical connection between the mistletoe and its host is age-independent. Thus, functional and structural integrity is ensured over the lifetime of the mistletoe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max D Mylo
- Plant Biomechanics Group @ Botanic Garden Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence livMatS @ FIT—Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Correspondence:
| | - Mara Hofmann
- Plant Biomechanics Group @ Botanic Garden Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence livMatS @ FIT—Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Frank Balle
- Department of Sustainable Systems Engineering—INATECH, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Samuel Beisel
- Department of Sustainable Systems Engineering—INATECH, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Speck
- Plant Biomechanics Group @ Botanic Garden Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence livMatS @ FIT—Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Olga Speck
- Plant Biomechanics Group @ Botanic Garden Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence livMatS @ FIT—Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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5
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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: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [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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Ajdary R, Tardy BL, Mattos BD, Bai L, Rojas OJ. Plant Nanomaterials and Inspiration from Nature: Water Interactions and Hierarchically Structured Hydrogels. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2021; 33:e2001085. [PMID: 32537860 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202001085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2020] [Revised: 03/08/2020] [Accepted: 03/20/2020] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Recent developments in the area of plant-based hydrogels are introduced, especially those derived from wood as a widely available, multiscale, and hierarchical source of nanomaterials, as well as other cell wall elements. With water being fundamental in a hydrogel, water interactions, hydration, and swelling, all critically important in designing, processing, and achieving the desired properties of sustainable and functional hydrogels, are highlighted. A plant, by itself, is a form of a hydrogel, at least at given states of development, and for this reason phenomena such as fluid transport, diffusion, capillarity, and ionic effects are examined. These aspects are highly relevant not only to plants, especially lignified tissues, but also to the porous structures produced after removal of water (foams, sponges, cryogels, xerogels, and aerogels). Thus, a useful source of critical and comprehensive information is provided regarding the synthesis of hydrogels from plant materials (and especially wood nanostructures), and about the role of water, not only for processing but for developing hydrogel properties and uses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubina Ajdary
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16300, Aalto, Espoo, FIN-00076, Finland
| | - Blaise L Tardy
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16300, Aalto, Espoo, FIN-00076, Finland
| | - Bruno D Mattos
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16300, Aalto, Espoo, FIN-00076, Finland
| | - Long Bai
- Departments of Chemical & Biological Engineering, Chemistry and, Wood Science, The University of British Columbia, 2360 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Orlando J Rojas
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16300, Aalto, Espoo, FIN-00076, Finland
- Departments of Chemical & Biological Engineering, Chemistry and, Wood Science, The University of British Columbia, 2360 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
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Mylo MD, Hofmann M, Delp A, Scholz R, Walther F, Speck T, Speck O. Advances on the Visualization of the Internal Structures of the European Mistletoe: 3D Reconstruction Using Microtomography. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:715711. [PMID: 34616413 PMCID: PMC8488221 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.715711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The European mistletoe (Viscum album) is a dioecious epiphytic evergreen hemiparasite that develops an extensive endophyte enabling the absorption of water and mineral salts from the host tree, whereas the exophytic leaves are photosynthetically active. The attachment mode and host penetration are well studied, but little information is available about the effects of mistletoe age and sex on haustorium-host interactions. We harvested 130 plants of Viscum album ssp. album growing on host branches of Aesculus flava for morphological and anatomical investigations. Morphometric analyses of the mistletoe and the (hypertrophied) host interaction site were correlated with mistletoe age and sex. We recorded the morphology of the endophytic systems of various ages by using X-ray microtomography scans and corresponding stereomicroscopic images. For detailed anatomical studies, we examined thin stained sections of the mistletoe-host interface by light microscopy. The diameter and length of the branch hypertrophy showed a positive linear correlation with the age of the mistletoe. Correlations with their sex were only found for ratios between host branch and hypertrophy size. A female bias of about 76% was found. In a 4-year-old mistletoe, several small, almost equally sized sinkers and the connected cortical strands extend over more than 5 cm within the host branch. In older mistletoes, one main sinker was predominant and occupied an increasingly large proportion of the stem cross-section. Bands of vessels ran along the axis of the wedge-shaped haustoria and sinkers and bent sideways toward the mistletoe-host interface. At the interface, the vascular elements of the host wood changed their direction and formed vortices near the haustorium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max D. Mylo
- Plant Biomechanics Group, Botanic Garden Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence livMatS @ FIT – Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, Freiburg, Germany
- *Correspondence: Max D. Mylo,
| | - Mara Hofmann
- Plant Biomechanics Group, Botanic Garden Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence livMatS @ FIT – Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Alexander Delp
- Department of Materials Test Engineering (WPT), TU Dortmund University, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Ronja Scholz
- Department of Materials Test Engineering (WPT), TU Dortmund University, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Frank Walther
- Department of Materials Test Engineering (WPT), TU Dortmund University, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Thomas Speck
- Plant Biomechanics Group, Botanic Garden Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence livMatS @ FIT – Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Olga Speck
- Plant Biomechanics Group, Botanic Garden Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence livMatS @ FIT – Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, Freiburg, Germany
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