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Hou X, Wang Y, Song X, Gao J, Ma Y. Biomimetic synthesis of single-crystalline anhydrous xanthine nanoplates in an aqueous solution with high reflectivity. SOFT MATTER 2024; 20:4422-4433. [PMID: 38775112 DOI: 10.1039/d4sm00165f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
Biogenic purine crystals can function in vision as light scatters, mirrors, and multilayer reflectors and produce structural colors or depolarization for camouflage. Xanthine crystals form irregular multifocal mirrors in the median ocellus of Archaeognatha. It is important to broaden the study of crystallization strategies to obtain organic crystals with purine rings in the laboratory. In this work, a facile one-step synthesis route to fabricate bio-inspired xanthine crystals is reported for the first time. The obtained rhomboidal xanthine nanoplates have similar morphology and size to biogenic xanthine crystals. Their length and thickness are about 2-4 μm and 50 nm, respectively. Lattice parameters, crystal structure, formation mechanism and optical properties of synthetic single-crystalline xanthine nanoplates were investigated in detail in this work. The obtained xanthine nanoplate crystals are proposed to be anhydrous xanthine with monoclinic symmetry, and the xanthine nanoplates mainly expose the (100) plane. It is proposed that the anhydrous xanthine nanoplates are formed via an amorphous xanthine intermediate precursor. The synthetic anhydrous xanthine nanoplates exhibit excellent optical properties, including high diffuse reflectivity, strong depolarization and pearlescent luster. This work provides a new design to synthesize bio-inspired organic molecular crystals with excellent optical properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiubin Hou
- MOE Key Laboratory of Cluster Science, Key Laboratory of Medical Molecule Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China.
| | - Yingxia Wang
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Xinbing Song
- School of Physics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China.
| | - Juan Gao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Cluster Science, Key Laboratory of Medical Molecule Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China.
| | - Yurong Ma
- MOE Key Laboratory of Cluster Science, Key Laboratory of Medical Molecule Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China.
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2
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Alus L, Houben L, Shaked N, Niazov-Elkan A, Pinkas I, Oron D, Addadi L. Bio-Inspired Crystalline Core-Shell Guanine Spherulites. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024:e2308832. [PMID: 38722270 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202308832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Spherical particles with diameters within the wavelength of visible light, known as spherulites, manipulate light uniquely due to their spatial organization and their structural birefringence. Most of the known crystalline spherulites are branched, and composed of metals, alloys, and semi-crystalline polymers. Recently, a different spherulite architecture is discovered in the vision systems of decapod crustaceans - core-shell spherulites composed of highly birefringent (Δ n ≈ 30 % $\Delta n \approx \ 30\%$ ) organic single-crystal platelets, with exceptional optical properties. These metastructures, which efficiently scatter light even in dense aqueous environments, have no synthetic equivalence and serve as a natural proof-of-concept as well as synthetic inspiration for thin scattering media. Here, the synthesis of core-shell spherulites composed of guanine crystal platelets ((Δ n ≈ 25 % $\Delta n \approx 25\%$ ) is presented in a two-step emulsification process in which a water/oil/water emulsion and induced pH changes are used to promote interfacial crystallization. Carboxylic acids neutralize the dissolved guanine salts to form spherulites composed of single, radially stacked, β-guanine platelets, which are oriented tangentially to the spherulite surface. Using Mie theory calculations and forward scattering measurements from single spherulites, it is found that due to the single-crystal properties and orientation, the synthetic spherulites possess a high tangential refractive index, similarly to biogenic particles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lotem Alus
- Department of Chemical and Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
- Department of Molecular Chemistry and Materials Science, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
| | - Lothar Houben
- Department of Chemical Research Support, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
| | - Noy Shaked
- Department of Chemical and Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
| | - Angelica Niazov-Elkan
- Department of Molecular Chemistry and Materials Science, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
| | - Iddo Pinkas
- Department of Chemical Research Support, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
| | - Dan Oron
- Department of Molecular Chemistry and Materials Science, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
| | - Lia Addadi
- Department of Chemical and Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
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3
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Yang C, Cheng Z, Li P, Tian B. Exploring Present and Future Directions in Nano-Enhanced Optoelectronic Neuromodulation. Acc Chem Res 2024; 57:1398-1410. [PMID: 38652467 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.4c00086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Electrical neuromodulation has achieved significant translational advancements, including the development of deep brain stimulators for managing neural disorders and vagus nerve stimulators for seizure treatment. Optoelectronics, in contrast to wired electrical systems, offers the leadless feature that guides multisite and high spatiotemporal neural system targeting, ensuring high specificity and precision in translational therapies known as "photoelectroceuticals". This Account provides a concise overview of developments in novel optoelectronic nanomaterials that are engineered through innovative molecular, chemical, and nanostructure designs to facilitate neural interfacing with high efficiency and minimally invasive implantation.This Account outlines the progress made both within our laboratory and across the broader scientific community, with particular attention to implications in materials innovation strategies, studying bioelectrical activation with spatiotemporal methods, and applications in regenerative medicine. In materials innovation, we highlight a nongenetic, biocompatible, and minimally invasive approach for neuromodulation that spans various length scales, from single neurons to nerve tissues using nanosized particles and monolithic membranes. Furthermore, our discussion exposes the critical unresolved questions in the field, including mechanisms of interaction at the nanobio interface, the precision of cellular or tissue targeting, and integration into existing neural networks with high spatiotemporal modulation. In addition, we present the challenges and pressing needs for long-term stability and biocompatibility, scalability for clinical applications, and the development of noninvasive monitoring and control systems.In addressing the existing challenges in the field of nanobio interfaces, particularly for neural applications, we envisage promising strategic directions that could significantly advance this burgeoning domain. This involves a deeper theoretical understanding of nanobiointerfaces, where simulations and experimental validations on how nanomaterials interact spatiotemporally with biological systems are crucial. The development of more durable materials is vital for prolonged applications in dynamic neural interfaces, and the ability to manipulate neural activity with high specificity and spatial resolution, paves the way for targeting individual neurons or specific neural circuits. Additionally, integrating these interfaces with advanced control systems, possibly leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms and programming dynamically responsive materials designs, could significantly ease the implementation of stimulation and recording. These innovations hold the potential to introduce novel treatment modalities for a wide range of neurological and systemic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuanwang Yang
- The James Franck Institute, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Zhe Cheng
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Pengju Li
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Bozhi Tian
- The James Franck Institute, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
- The Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
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4
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Lemcoff T, Alus L, Haataja JS, Wagner A, Zhang G, Pavan MJ, Yallapragada VJ, Vignolini S, Oron D, Schertel L, Palmer BA. Brilliant whiteness in shrimp from ultra-thin layers of birefringent nanospheres. NATURE PHOTONICS 2023; 17:485-493. [PMID: 37287680 PMCID: PMC10241642 DOI: 10.1038/s41566-023-01182-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
A fundamental question regarding light scattering is how whiteness, generated from multiple scattering, can be obtained from thin layers of materials. This challenge arises from the phenomenon of optical crowding, whereby, for scatterers packed with filling fractions higher than ~30%, reflectance is drastically reduced due to near-field coupling between the scatterers. Here we show that the extreme birefringence of isoxanthopterin nanospheres overcomes optical crowding effects, enabling multiple scattering and brilliant whiteness from ultra-thin chromatophore cells in shrimp. Strikingly, numerical simulations reveal that birefringence, originating from the spherulitic arrangement of isoxanthopterin molecules, enables intense broadband scattering almost up to the maximal packing for random spheres. This reduces the thickness of material required to produce brilliant whiteness, resulting in a photonic system that is more efficient than other biogenic or biomimetic white materials which operate in the lower refractive index medium of air. These results highlight the importance of birefringence as a structural variable to enhance the performance of such materials and could contribute to the design of biologically inspired replacements for artificial scatterers like titanium dioxide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tali Lemcoff
- Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Lotem Alus
- Department of Molecular Chemistry and Materials Science, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- Department of Chemical and Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Johannes S. Haataja
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University School of Science, Espoo, Finland
| | - Avital Wagner
- Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Gan Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
- Present Address: College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Mariela J. Pavan
- Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science & Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | | | - Silvia Vignolini
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Dan Oron
- Department of Molecular Chemistry and Materials Science, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Lukas Schertel
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Physics, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Benjamin A. Palmer
- Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
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5
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Wang Y, Geng Q, Zhang Y, Adler-Abramovich L, Fan X, Mei D, Gazit E, Tao K. Fmoc-diphenylalanine gelating nanoarchitectonics: A simplistic peptide self-assembly to meet complex applications. J Colloid Interface Sci 2023; 636:113-133. [PMID: 36623365 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2022.12.166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl-diphenylalanine (Fmoc-FF), has been has been extensively explored due to its ultrafast self-assembly kinetics, inherent biocompatibility, tunable physicochemical properties, and especially, the capability of forming self-sustained gels under physiological conditions. Consequently, various methodologies to develop Fmoc-FF gels and their corresponding applications in biomedical and industrial fields have been extensively studied. Herein, we systemically summarize the mechanisms underlying Fmoc-FF self-assembly, discuss the preparation methodologies of Fmoc-FF hydrogels, and then deliberate the properties as well as the diverse applications of Fmoc-FF self-assemblies. Finally, the contemporary shortcomings which limit the development of Fmoc-FF self-assembly are raised and the alternative solutions are proposed, along with future research perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunxiao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China; Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311200, China; Zhejiang-Israel Joint Laboratory of Self-Assembling Functional Materials, Hangzhou 311200, China
| | - Qiang Geng
- State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China; Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311200, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Centre for Bioengineering and Biotechnology, College of Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), 66 Changjiang West Road, Qingdao 266580, China
| | - Lihi Adler-Abramovich
- Department of Oral Biology, The Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel; The Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel; Zhejiang-Israel Joint Laboratory of Self-Assembling Functional Materials, Hangzhou 311200, China.
| | - Xinyuan Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China; Key Laboratory of Advanced Manufacturing Technology of Zhejiang Province, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China; Zhejiang-Israel Joint Laboratory of Self-Assembling Functional Materials, Hangzhou 311200, China
| | - Deqing Mei
- State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China; Key Laboratory of Advanced Manufacturing Technology of Zhejiang Province, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Ehud Gazit
- The Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, 6997801 Tel Aviv, Israel; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Iby and Aladar Fleischman, Tel Aviv University, 6997801 Tel Aviv, Israel; Zhejiang-Israel Joint Laboratory of Self-Assembling Functional Materials, Hangzhou 311200, China.
| | - Kai Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China; Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311200, China; Key Laboratory of Advanced Manufacturing Technology of Zhejiang Province, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China; Zhejiang-Israel Joint Laboratory of Self-Assembling Functional Materials, Hangzhou 311200, China.
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6
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Lew AJ, Stifler CA, Tits A, Schmidt CA, Scholl A, Cantamessa A, Müller L, Delaunois Y, Compère P, Ruffoni D, Buehler MJ, Gilbert PUPA. A Molecular-Scale Understanding of Misorientation Toughening in Corals and Seashells. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023:e2300373. [PMID: 36864010 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202300373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Biominerals are organic-mineral composites formed by living organisms. They are the hardest and toughest tissues in those organisms, are often polycrystalline, and their mesostructure (which includes nano- and microscale crystallite size, shape, arrangement, and orientation) can vary dramatically. Marine biominerals may be aragonite, vaterite, or calcite, all calcium carbonate (CaCO3 ) polymorphs, differing in crystal structure. Unexpectedly, diverse CaCO3 biominerals such as coral skeletons and nacre share a similar characteristic: Adjacent crystals are slightly misoriented. This observation is documented quantitatively at the micro- and nanoscales, using polarization-dependent imaging contrast mapping (PIC mapping), and the slight misorientations is consistently between 1° and 40°. Nanoindentation shows that both polycrystalline biominerals and abiotic synthetic spherulites are tougher than single-crystalline geologic aragonite, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of bicrystals at the molecular scale reveals that aragonite, vaterite, and calcite exhibit toughness maxima when the bicrystals are misoriented by 10°, 20°, and 30°, respectively, demonstrating that slight misorientation alone can increase fracture toughness. Slight-misorientation-toughening can be harnessed for synthesis of bioinspired materials that only require one material, are not limited to specific top-down architecture, and are easily achieved by self-assembly of organic molecules (e.g., aspirin, chocolate), polymers, metals, and ceramics well beyond biominerals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Lew
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics (LAMM), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Cayla A Stifler
- Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Alexandra Tits
- Mechanics of Biological and Bioinspired Materials Laboratory, Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Liège, Liège, B-4000, Belgium
| | - Connor A Schmidt
- Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Andreas Scholl
- Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Astrid Cantamessa
- Mechanics of Biological and Bioinspired Materials Laboratory, Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Liège, Liège, B-4000, Belgium
| | - Laura Müller
- Mechanics of Biological and Bioinspired Materials Laboratory, Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Liège, Liège, B-4000, Belgium
| | - Yann Delaunois
- Laboratory of Functional and Evolutionary Morphology (FOCUS Research Unit) and Center for Applied Research and Education in Microscopy (CAREM), University of Liège, Liège, B-4000, Belgium
| | - Philippe Compère
- Laboratory of Functional and Evolutionary Morphology (FOCUS Research Unit) and Center for Applied Research and Education in Microscopy (CAREM), University of Liège, Liège, B-4000, Belgium
| | - Davide Ruffoni
- Mechanics of Biological and Bioinspired Materials Laboratory, Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Liège, Liège, B-4000, Belgium
| | - Markus J Buehler
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics (LAMM), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Pupa U P A Gilbert
- Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
- Departments of Materials Science and Engineering, Geoscience, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
- Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
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7
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Shavit K, Wagner A, Schertel L, Farstey V, Akkaynak D, Zhang G, Upcher A, Sagi A, Yallapragada VJ, Haataja J, Palmer BA. A tunable reflector enabling crustaceans to see but not be seen. Science 2023; 379:695-700. [PMID: 36795838 DOI: 10.1126/science.add4099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
Many oceanic prey animals use transparent bodies to avoid detection. However, conspicuous eye pigments, required for vision, compromise the organisms' ability to remain unseen. We report the discovery of a reflector overlying the eye pigments in larval decapod crustaceans and show how it is tuned to render the organisms inconspicuous against the background. The ultracompact reflector is constructed from a photonic glass of crystalline isoxanthopterin nanospheres. The nanospheres' size and ordering are modulated to tune the reflectance from deep blue to yellow, enabling concealment in different habitats. The reflector may also function to enhance the acuity or sensitivity of the minute eyes by acting as an optical screen between photoreceptors. This multifunctional reflector offers inspiration for constructing tunable artificial photonic materials from biocompatible organic molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keshet Shavit
- Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Avital Wagner
- Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Lukas Schertel
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.,Department of Physics, University of Fribourg, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Viviana Farstey
- The Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences, Eilat 8810302, Israel
| | - Derya Akkaynak
- The Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences, Eilat 8810302, Israel.,Hatter Department of Marine Technologies, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
| | - Gan Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Alexander Upcher
- Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science & Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheba 8410501, Israel
| | - Amir Sagi
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel.,The National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | | | - Johannes Haataja
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K
| | - Benjamin A Palmer
- Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
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8
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Zhang X, Gao J, Wang X, Wang S, Jiang B, Wang W, Wang H. Determining the Local Refractive Index of Single Particles by Optical Imaging Technique. Anal Chem 2022; 94:17741-17745. [PMID: 36520603 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c04043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The refractive index points to the interplay between light and objects, which is rarely studied down to micronano scale. Herein, we demonstrated a conventional bright-field imaging technique to determine the local refractive index of single particles combined with a series of refractive index standard solutions. This intrinsic optical property is independent with the particle size and surface roughness with a single chemical component. Furthermore, we accurately tuned refractive index of homemade core-shell nanoparticles by adjusting the ratio of core-to-shell geometry. This simple and effective strategy reveals extensive applications in exploring, designing and optimizing the physical and optical characterizations of composite photonic crystals with high precision. It also indicates potentials in the field of reflective displays, optical identification, and encryption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing210023, China
| | - Jia Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing210023, China
| | - Xinyue Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing210023, China
| | - Sa Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing210023, China
| | - Bo Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing210023, China
| | - Wei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing210023, China
| | - Hui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing210023, China
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9
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Liao J, Zhu C, He Z, Zhang J, Zeng Y, Gu Z. Kinetically Controlled Synthesis of Nonspherical Polystyrene Nanoparticles with Manipulatable Morphologies. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2022; 38:12132-12139. [PMID: 36184816 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c01326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The morphology of nanoparticles plays a critical role in determining their properties and applications. Herein, we report a versatile approach to the fabrication of nonspherical polystyrene (PS) nanoparticles with controlled morphologies on the basis of kinetically controlled seed-mediated polymerization. By manipulating parameters related to the reaction kinetics including the concentration of monomers, injection rate of reactants, and reaction temperature, the monomers could be directed to polymerize on the selective sites of PS seeds, and after the removal of the second polymer, nonspherical nanoparticles with a variety of thermodynamically unfavored morphologies could be synthesized. We systematically investigated the formation mechanism of these nonspherical nanoparticles by monitoring the evolution of seeds during the reaction. Moreover, we have also successfully extended this strategy to reaction systems containing monomers with different combinations and seeds with different sizes. We believe this work will provide a promising route to the fabrication of nonspherical polymer nanoparticles with controlled morphologies for various applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junlong Liao
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, China 210096
| | - Cun Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, China 210096
| | - Zhenzhu He
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, China 210096
| | - Junning Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, China 210096
| | - Yi Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, China 210096
| | - Zhongze Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, China 210096
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10
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Xia L, Wang Q, Hu M. Recent advances in nanoarchitectures of monocrystalline coordination polymers through confined assembly. BEILSTEIN JOURNAL OF NANOTECHNOLOGY 2022; 13:763-777. [PMID: 36051312 PMCID: PMC9379653 DOI: 10.3762/bjnano.13.67] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Various kinds of monocrystalline coordination polymers are available thanks to the rapid development of related synthetic strategies. The intrinsic properties of coordination polymers have been carefully investigated on the basis of the available monocrystalline samples. Regarding the great potential of coordination polymers in various fields, it becomes important to tailor the properties of coordination polymers to meet practical requirements, which sometimes cannot be achieved through molecular/crystal engineering. Nanoarchitectonics offer unique opportunities to manipulate the properties of materials through integration of the monocrystalline building blocks with other components. Recently, nanoarchitectonics has started to play a significant role in the field of coordination polymers. In this short review, we summarize recent advances in nanoarchitectures based on monocrystalline coordination polymers that are formed through confined assembly. We first discuss the crystallization of coordination polymer single crystals inside confined liquid networks or on substrates through assembly of nodes and ligands. Then, we discuss assembly of preformed coordination polymer single crystals inside confined liquid networks or on substrates. In each part, we discuss the properties of the coordination polymer single crystals as well as their performance in energy, environmental, and biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingling Xia
- Engineering Research Center for Nanophotonics and Advanced Instrument (MOE), School of Physics and Electronic Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Qinyue Wang
- Engineering Research Center for Nanophotonics and Advanced Instrument (MOE), School of Physics and Electronic Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Ming Hu
- Engineering Research Center for Nanophotonics and Advanced Instrument (MOE), School of Physics and Electronic Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
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11
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Parisotto A, Steiner U, Cabras AA, Van Dam MH, Wilts BD. Pachyrhynchus Weevils Use 3D Photonic Crystals with Varying Degrees of Order to Create Diverse and Brilliant Displays. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2022; 18:e2200592. [PMID: 35426236 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202200592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The brilliant appearance of Easter Egg weevils, genus Pachyrhynchus (Coleoptera, Curculionidae), originates from complex dielectric nanostructures within their elytral scales and elytra. Previous work, investigating singular members of the Pachyrhynchus showed the presence of either quasi-ordered or ordered 3D photonic crystals based on the single diamond ( Fd3¯m ) symmetry in their scales. However, little is known about the diversity of the structural coloration mechanisms within the family. Here, the optical properties within Pachyrhynchus are investigated by systematically identifying their spectral and structural characteristics. Four principal traits that vary their appearance are identified and the evolutionary history of these traits to identify ecological trends are reconstructed. The results indicate that the coloration mechanisms across the Easter Egg weevils are diverse and highly plastic across closely related species with features appearing at multiple independent times across their phylogeny. This work lays a foundation for a better understanding of the various forms of quasi-ordered and ordered diamond photonic crystal within arthropods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Parisotto
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Chemin des Verdiers 4, Fribourg, 1700, Switzerland
| | - Ullrich Steiner
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Chemin des Verdiers 4, Fribourg, 1700, Switzerland
| | - Analyn Anzano Cabras
- Coleoptera Research Center, Institute for Biodiversity and Environment, University of Mindanao, Matina, Davao City, 8000, Philippines
| | - Matthew H Van Dam
- Entomology Department, Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability, California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Dr., San Francisco, CA, 94118, USA
| | - Bodo D Wilts
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Chemin des Verdiers 4, Fribourg, 1700, Switzerland
- Chemistry and Physics of Materials, University of Salzburg, Jakob-Haringer-Str. 2a, Salzburg, 5020, Austria
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12
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Cai J, Zhang W, Xu L, Hao C, Ma W, Sun M, Wu X, Qin X, Colombari FM, de Moura AF, Xu J, Silva MC, Carneiro-Neto EB, Gomes WR, Vallée RAL, Pereira EC, Liu X, Xu C, Klajn R, Kotov NA, Kuang H. Polarization-sensitive optoionic membranes from chiral plasmonic nanoparticles. NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY 2022; 17:408-416. [PMID: 35288671 DOI: 10.1038/s41565-022-01079-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Optoelectronic effects differentiating absorption of right and left circularly polarized photons in thin films of chiral materials are typically prohibitively small for their direct photocurrent observation. Chiral metasurfaces increase the electronic sensitivity to circular polarization, but their out-of-plane architecture entails manufacturing and performance trade-offs. Here, we show that nanoporous thin films of chiral nanoparticles enable high sensitivity to circular polarization due to light-induced polarization-dependent ion accumulation at nanoparticle interfaces. Self-assembled multilayers of gold nanoparticles modified with L-phenylalanine generate a photocurrent under right-handed circularly polarized light as high as 2.41 times higher than under left-handed circularly polarized light. The strong plasmonic coupling between the multiple nanoparticles producing planar chiroplasmonic modes facilitates the ejection of electrons, whose entrapment at the membrane-electrolyte interface is promoted by a thick layer of enantiopure phenylalanine. Demonstrated detection of light ellipticity with equal sensitivity at all incident angles mimics phenomenological aspects of polarization vision in marine animals. The simplicity of self-assembly and sensitivity of polarization detection found in optoionic membranes opens the door to a family of miniaturized fluidic devices for chiral photonics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiarong Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Biointerface and Biodetection, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Institute of Applied Physics and Computational Mathematics, Beijing, China
- Beijing Computational Science Research Centre, Beijing, China
| | - Liguang Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Biointerface and Biodetection, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- The Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Biological Colloids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Changlong Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Biointerface and Biodetection, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Wei Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Biointerface and Biodetection, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Maozhong Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Biointerface and Biodetection, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Xiaoling Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Biointerface and Biodetection, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Xian Qin
- Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Felippe Mariano Colombari
- Brazilian Biorenewables National Laboratory, Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials, Campinas, Brazil
| | | | - Jiahui Xu
- Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Xiaogang Liu
- Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Chuanlai Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China.
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Biointerface and Biodetection, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China.
- The Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Biological Colloids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China.
| | - Rafal Klajn
- Department of Molecular Chemistry and Materials Science, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
| | - Nicholas A Kotov
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Michigan Institute for Translational Nanotechnology, Ypsilanti, MI, USA.
| | - Hua Kuang
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China.
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Biointerface and Biodetection, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China.
- The Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Biological Colloids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China.
- Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China.
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13
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Pinsk N, Wagner A, Cohen L, Smalley CJH, Hughes CE, Zhang G, Pavan MJ, Casati N, Jantschke A, Goobes G, Harris KDM, Palmer BA. Biogenic Guanine Crystals Are Solid Solutions of Guanine and Other Purine Metabolites. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:5180-5189. [PMID: 35255213 PMCID: PMC8949762 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c00724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Highly reflective
crystals of the nucleotide base guanine are widely
distributed in animal coloration and visual systems. Organisms precisely
control the morphology and organization of the crystals to optimize
different optical effects, but little is known about how this is achieved.
Here we examine a fundamental question that has remained unanswered
after over 100 years of research on guanine: what are the
crystals made of? Using solution-state and solid-state chemical
techniques coupled with structural analysis by powder XRD and solid-state
NMR, we compare the purine compositions and the structures of seven
biogenic guanine crystals with different crystal morphologies, testing
the hypothesis that intracrystalline dopants influence the crystal
shape. We find that biogenic “guanine” crystals are
not pure crystals but molecular alloys (aka solid
solutions and mixed crystals) of guanine, hypoxanthine, and sometimes
xanthine. Guanine host crystals occlude homogeneous mixtures of other
purines, sometimes in remarkably large amounts (up to 20% of hypoxanthine),
without significantly altering the crystal structure of the guanine
host. We find no correlation between the biogenic crystal morphology
and dopant content and conclude that dopants do not dictate the crystal
morphology of the guanine host. The ability of guanine crystals to
host other molecules enables animals to build physiologically “cheaper”
crystals from mixtures of metabolically available purines, without
impeding optical functionality. The exceptional levels of doping in
biogenic guanine offer inspiration for the design of mixed molecular
crystals that incorporate multiple functionalities in a single material.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noam Pinsk
- Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheba 8410501, Israel
| | - Avital Wagner
- Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheba 8410501, Israel
| | - Lilian Cohen
- Department of Chemistry, Bar-Ilan University, 5290002 Ramat Gan, Israel
| | | | - Colan E Hughes
- School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AT, Wales United Kingdom
| | - Gan Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheba 8410501, Israel
| | - Mariela J Pavan
- Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science & Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheba 8410501, Israel
| | - Nicola Casati
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Anne Jantschke
- Institute of Geosciences, Johannes-Gutenberg-Universität 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Gil Goobes
- Department of Chemistry, Bar-Ilan University, 5290002 Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Kenneth D M Harris
- School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AT, Wales United Kingdom
| | - Benjamin A Palmer
- Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheba 8410501, Israel
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14
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Pan X, Chi H, Luo C, Feng X, Huang Y, Zhang G. A novel metallic silvery color caused by pointillistic mixing of disordered nano-to micro-pixels of iridescent colors. RSC Adv 2022; 12:5534-5539. [PMID: 35425567 PMCID: PMC8982057 DOI: 10.1039/d1ra08573e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Rich iridescent structural colors in nature, such as peacock feathers, butterfly wings, beetle scales, and mollusc nacre, have attracted extensive attention for a long time and they generally result from the interaction between light and periodic structures. However, non-iridescent structural colors, such as silvery structural colors, have received relatively little attention, and they usually result from non-periodic structures. Here, using optical microscopy, fiber-optic spectrometry, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and laser Raman spectroscopy, we investigate the origin of a novel structural color occurring at the edge of a bivalve shell (i.e., an otter shell). We find that: (1) the structural colors are observed to be uniform metallic silvery when viewed with the naked eye; (2) they are surprisingly multicolored with various colorful pixels juxtaposed together when viewed with an optical microscope; (3) each individual pixel shows a single color originating from a periodic, multilayered organic film with definite spacing (d); and (4) different pixels vary significantly in size, shape, and color with different d values (202–387 nm). Finally, we confirm that the macroscopic silvery color results from the pointillistic mixing of nano-to microscale iridescent pixels. We also discuss the special photonic structure responsible for the silvery color. We hope that this work can not only accelerate our comprehension of photonic materials, but also provide new inspiration for the synthesis of silvery white materials. We report a new metallic silvery color caused by nano-to micro-pointillistic mixing of disordered pixels of iridescent colors, which result from a multilayer reflector.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Xijin Pan
- School of Resources, Environment and Materials, Guangxi University, 100 Daxue Road, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China
| | - Haoyang Chi
- School of Resources, Environment and Materials, Guangxi University, 100 Daxue Road, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China
| | - Chunyi Luo
- School of Resources, Environment and Materials, Guangxi University, 100 Daxue Road, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China
| | - Xin Feng
- School of Resources, Environment and Materials, Guangxi University, 100 Daxue Road, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China
| | - YongChun Huang
- School of Resources, Environment and Materials, Guangxi University, 100 Daxue Road, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China
| | - Gangsheng Zhang
- School of Resources, Environment and Materials, Guangxi University, 100 Daxue Road, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China
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15
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Yasir M, Sai T, Sicher A, Scheffold F, Steiner U, Wilts BD, Dufresne ER. Enhancing the Refractive Index of Polymers with a Plant-Based Pigment. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2021; 17:e2103061. [PMID: 34558188 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202103061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Polymers are essential components of many nanostructured materials. However, the refractive indices of common polymers fall in a relatively narrow range between 1.4 and 1.6. Here, it is demonstrated that loading commercially-available polymers with large concentrations of a plant-based pigment can effectively enhance their refractive index. For polystyrene (PS) loaded with 67 w/w% β-carotene (BC), a peak value of 2.2 near the absorption edge at 531 nm is achieved, while maintaining values above 1.75 across longer wavelengths of the visible spectrum. Despite high pigment loadings, this blend maintains the thermoforming ability of PS, and BC remains molecularly dispersed. Similar results are demonstrated for the plant-derived polymer ethyl cellulose (EC). Since the refractive index enhancement is intimately connected to the introduction of strong absorption, it is best suited to applications where light travels short distances through the material, such as reflectors and nanophotonic systems. Enhanced reflectance from films is experimentally demonstrated, as large as sevenfold for EC at selected wavelengths. Theoretical calculations highlight that this simple strategy can significantly increase light scattering by nanoparticles and enhance the performance of Bragg reflectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Yasir
- Department of Materials, ETH Zürich, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Tianqi Sai
- Department of Materials, ETH Zürich, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Alba Sicher
- Department of Materials, ETH Zürich, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Frank Scheffold
- Department of Physics, University of Fribourg, 1700, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Ullrich Steiner
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, 1700, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Bodo D Wilts
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, 1700, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Eric R Dufresne
- Department of Materials, ETH Zürich, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland
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16
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Affiliation(s)
- Avital Wagner
- Department of Chemistry Ben-Gurion University of the Negev P.O.B 653 Beer-Sheva 84105 Israel
| | - Qiang Wen
- Department of Chemistry Ben-Gurion University of the Negev P.O.B 653 Beer-Sheva 84105 Israel
| | - Noam Pinsk
- Department of Chemistry Ben-Gurion University of the Negev P.O.B 653 Beer-Sheva 84105 Israel
| | - Benjamin A. Palmer
- Department of Chemistry Ben-Gurion University of the Negev P.O.B 653 Beer-Sheva 84105 Israel
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17
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Stuart-Fox D, Rankin KJ, Lutz A, Elliott A, Hugall AF, McLean CA, Medina I. Environmental gradients predict the ratio of environmentally acquired carotenoids to self-synthesised pteridine pigments. Ecol Lett 2021; 24:2207-2218. [PMID: 34350679 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Carotenoids are important pigments producing integument colouration; however, their dietary availability may be limited in some environments. Many species produce yellow to red hues using a combination of carotenoids and self-synthesised pteridine pigments. A compelling hypothesis is that pteridines replace carotenoids in environments where carotenoid availability is limited. To test this hypothesis, we quantified concentrations of five carotenoid and six pteridine pigments in multiple skin colours and individuals from 27 species of agamid lizards. We show that environmental gradients predict the ratio of carotenoids to pteridines; carotenoid concentrations are lower and pteridine concentrations higher in arid environments with low vegetation productivity. Both carotenoid and pteridine pigments were present in all species, but only pteridine concentrations explained colour variation among species and there were no correlations between carotenoid and pteridine pigments with a similar hue. These results suggest that in arid environments, where carotenoids are likely limited, species may compensate by synthesising more pteridines but do not necessarily replace carotenoids with pteridines of similar hue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devi Stuart-Fox
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic, Australia
| | - Katrina J Rankin
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic, Australia
| | - Adrian Lutz
- Metabolomics Australia, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic, Australia
| | - Adam Elliott
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic, Australia
| | - Andrew F Hugall
- Sciences Department, Museums Victoria, Carlton Gardens, Melbourne, Vic, Australia
| | - Claire A McLean
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic, Australia.,Sciences Department, Museums Victoria, Carlton Gardens, Melbourne, Vic, Australia
| | - Iliana Medina
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic, Australia
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18
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Beck LM, Yallapragada VJ, Upcher A, Palmer BA, Addadi L, Oron D. Measuring the optical properties of nanoscale biogenic spherulites. OPTICS EXPRESS 2021; 29:20863-20871. [PMID: 34266166 DOI: 10.1364/oe.430376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies of optical reflectors as part of the vision apparatus in the eyes of decapod crustaceans revealed assemblies of nanoscale spherulites - spherical core-shell nanoparticles with radial birefringence. Simulations performed on the system highlighted the advantages of optical anisotropy in enhancing the functionality of these structures. So far, calculations of the nanoparticle optical properties have relied on refractive indices obtained using ab-initio calculations. Here we describe a direct measurement of the tangential refractive index of the spherulites, which corresponds to the in-plane refractive index of crystalline isoxanthopterin nanoplatelets. We utilize measurements of scattering spectra of individual spherulites and determine the refractive index by analyzing the spectral signatures of scattering resonances. Our measurements yield a median tangential refractive index of 1.88, which is in reasonable agreement with theoretical predictions. Furthermore, our results indicate that the optical properties of small spherulite assemblies are largely determined by the tangential index.
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19
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Sun CY, Gránásy L, Stifler CA, Zaquin T, Chopdekar RV, Tamura N, Weaver JC, Zhang JAY, Goffredo S, Falini G, Marcus MA, Pusztai T, Schoeppler V, Mass T, Gilbert PUPA. Crystal nucleation and growth of spherulites demonstrated by coral skeletons and phase-field simulations. Acta Biomater 2021; 120:277-292. [PMID: 32590171 PMCID: PMC7116570 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2020.06.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Revised: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Spherulites are radial distributions of acicular crystals, common in biogenic, geologic, and synthetic systems, yet exactly how spherulitic crystals nucleate and grow is still poorly understood. To investigate these processes in more detail, we chose scleractinian corals as a model system, because they are well known to form their skeletons from aragonite (CaCO3) spherulites, and because a comparative study of crystal structures across coral species has not been performed previously. We observed that all 12 diverse coral species analyzed here exhibit plumose spherulites in their skeletons, with well-defined centers of calcification (CoCs), and crystalline fibers radiating from them. In 7 of the 12 species, we observed a skeletal structural motif not observed previously: randomly oriented, equant crystals, which we termed "sprinkles". In Acropora pharaonis, these sprinkles are localized at the CoCs, while in 6 other species, sprinkles are either layered at the growth front (GF) of the spherulites, or randomly distributed. At the nano- and micro-scale, coral skeletons fill space as much as single crystals of aragonite. Based on these observations, we tentatively propose a spherulite formation mechanism in which growth front nucleation (GFN) of randomly oriented sprinkles, competition for space, and coarsening produce spherulites, rather than the previously assumed slightly misoriented nucleations termed "non-crystallographic branching". Phase-field simulations support this mechanism, and, using a minimal set of thermodynamic parameters, are able to reproduce all of the microstructural variation observed experimentally in all of the investigated coral skeletons. Beyond coral skeletons, other spherulitic systems, from aspirin to semicrystalline polymers and chocolate, may also form according to the mechanism for spherulite formation proposed here. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Understanding the fundamental mechanisms of spherulite nucleation and growth has broad ranging applications in the fields of metallurgy, polymers, food science, and pharmaceutical production. Using the skeletons of reef-building corals as a model system for investigating these processes, we propose a new spherulite growth mechanism that can not only explain the micro-structural diversity observed in distantly related coral species, but may point to a universal growth mechanism in a wide range of biologically and technologically relevant spherulitic materials systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang-Yu Sun
- Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA; Materials Science Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - László Gránásy
- Institute for Solid State Physics and Optics, Wigner Research Centre for Physics, PO Box 49, 1525 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Cayla A Stifler
- Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Tal Zaquin
- University of Haifa, Marine Biology Department, Mt. Carmel, Haifa 31905, Israel
| | - Rajesh V Chopdekar
- Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Nobumichi Tamura
- Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - James C Weaver
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Jun A Y Zhang
- Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Stefano Goffredo
- Marine Science Group, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Selmi 3, I-40126 Bologna, Italy; Fano Marine Center, The Inter-Institute Center for Research on Marine Biodiversity, Resources and Biotechnologies, viale Adriatico 1/N, 61032 Fano, Pesaro Urbino, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Falini
- Department of Chemistry "Giacomo Ciamician", Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Via Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy; Fano Marine Center, The Inter-Institute Center for Research on Marine Biodiversity, Resources and Biotechnologies, viale Adriatico 1/N, 61032 Fano, Pesaro Urbino, Italy
| | - Matthew A Marcus
- Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Tamás Pusztai
- Institute for Solid State Physics and Optics, Wigner Research Centre for Physics, PO Box 49, 1525 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Vanessa Schoeppler
- B CUBE-Center for Molecular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Tali Mass
- University of Haifa, Marine Biology Department, Mt. Carmel, Haifa 31905, Israel
| | - Pupa U P A Gilbert
- Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA; Departments of Chemistry, Geoscience, Materials Science, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
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20
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Bahng JH, Jahani S, Montjoy DG, Yao T, Kotov N, Marandi A. Mie Resonance Engineering in Meta-Shell Supraparticles for Nanoscale Nonlinear Optics. ACS NANO 2020; 14:17203-17212. [PMID: 33289554 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.0c07127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Supraparticles are coordinated assemblies of discrete nanoscale building blocks into complex and hierarchical colloidal superstructures. Holistic optical responses in such assemblies are not observed in an individual building block or in their bulk counterparts. Furthermore, subwavelength dimensions of the unit building blocks enable engraving optical metamaterials within the supraparticle, which thus far has been beyond the current pool of colloidal engineering. This can lead to effective optical features in a colloidal platform with ability to tune the electromagnetic responses of these particles. Here, we introduce and demonstrate the nanophotonics of meta-shell supraparticle (MSP), an all dielectric colloidal superstructure having an optical nonlinear metamaterial shell conformed onto a spherical core. We show that the metamaterial shell facilitates engineering the Mie resonances in the MSP that enable significant enhancement of the second harmonic generation (SHG). We show several orders of magnitude enhancement of second-harmonic generation in an MSP compared to its building blocks. Furthermore, we show an absolute conversion efficiency as high as 10-7 far from the damage threshold, setting a benchmark for SHG with low-index colloids. The MSP provides pragmatic solutions for instantaneous wavelength conversions with colloidal platforms that are suitable for chemical and biological applications. Their engineerability and scalability promise a fertile ground for nonlinear nanophotonics in the colloidal platforms with structural and material diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joong Hwan Bahng
- Department of Electrical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91107, United States
| | - Saman Jahani
- Department of Electrical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91107, United States
| | - Douglas G Montjoy
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Timothy Yao
- Department of Electrical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91107, United States
| | - Nicholas Kotov
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Alireza Marandi
- Department of Electrical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91107, United States
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21
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Schiffmann N, Wormser EM, Brumfeld V, Addadi Y, Pinkas I, Yallapragada VJ, Aflalo ED, Sagi A, Palmer BA, Weiner S, Addadi L. Characterization and possible function of an enigmatic reflector in the eye of the shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei. Faraday Discuss 2020; 223:278-294. [PMID: 32748932 DOI: 10.1039/d0fd00044b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Reflective assemblies of high refractive index organic crystals are used to produce striking optical phenomena in organisms based on light reflection and scattering. In aquatic animals, organic crystal-based reflectors are used both for image-formation and to increase photon capture. Here we report the characterization of a poorly-documented reflector in the eye of the shrimp L. vannamei lying 150 μm below the retina, which we term the proximal reflective layer (PR-layer). The PR-layer is made from a dense but disordered array of polycrystalline isoxanthopterin nanoparticles, similar to those recently reported in the tapetum of the same animal. Each spherical nanoparticle is composed of numerous isoxanthopterin single crystal plates arranged in concentric lamellae around an aqueous core. The highly reflective plate faces of the crystals are all aligned tangentially to the particle surface with the optical axes projecting radially outwards, forming a birefringent spherulite which efficiently scatters light. The nanoparticle assemblies form a broadband reflective sheath around the screening pigments of the eye, resulting in pronounced eye-shine when the animal is viewed from a dorsal-posterior direction, rendering the eye pigments inconspicuous. We assess possible functions of the PR-layer and conclude that it likely functions as a camouflage device to conceal the dark eye pigments in an otherwise largely transparent animal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Schiffmann
- Department of Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel.
| | - Eyal Merary Wormser
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, 8410501, Israel
| | - Vlad Brumfeld
- Department of Chemical Research Support, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Yoseph Addadi
- Department of Life Sciences Core Facilities, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Iddo Pinkas
- Department of Chemical Research Support, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | | | - Eliahu D Aflalo
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 8410501, Beer-Sheva, Israel and Department of Life Sciences, Achva Academic College, Arugot, Israel
| | - Amir Sagi
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 8410501, Beer-Sheva, Israel and The National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, 8410501, Israel
| | - Benjamin A Palmer
- Department of Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel.
| | - Steve Weiner
- Department of Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel.
| | - Lia Addadi
- Department of Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel.
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Schertel L, Vignolini S. Nanotechnology in a shrimp eye's view. NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY 2020; 15:87-88. [PMID: 32042173 DOI: 10.1038/s41565-020-0645-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Schertel
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
| | - Silvia Vignolini
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
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