1
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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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Mujica R, Augustine A, Pauly M, Battie Y, Decher G, Houérou VL, Felix O. Nature-Inspired Helicoidal Nanocellulose-Based Multi-Compartment Assemblies with Tunable Chiroptical Properties. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024:e2401742. [PMID: 38635929 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202401742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
Cellulose-based nanocomposites are highly appealing for the development of next-generation sustainable functional materials. Although many advances have been made in this direction, the true potential of fibrillar nanocomposites has yet to be realized because available fabrication approaches are inadequate for achieving precise structural control at the sub-micrometer scale. Here a spray-assisted alignment methodology of cellulose nanofibrils is combined with the layer-by-layer assembly into an additive manufacturing process in which the alignment direction of each cellulose layer is rationally selected to achieve thin films with a helicoidal arrangement of the nanofibrils. The helicoidal structure of the films is verified by measuring the circular dichroism (CD) of the samples. The sign and position of the structural CD peak show that the handedness and the pitch of the chiral structures can be easily tuned by deliberately selecting simple parameters, such as the number of consecutive cellulose layers sprayed in the same direction, and the angle of rotation between successive stacks of layers. To the authors' knowledge, this approach is unique as it offers the possibility to prepare complex nanocomposite architectures with various nanoscale-controlled sub-structures from different anisometric objects, which is enabling novel designs of composite films with damage-resistant and/or optical filtering functionalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Randy Mujica
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Institut Charles Sadron UPR22, Strasbourg, F-67000, France
| | - Anusree Augustine
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Institut Charles Sadron UPR22, Strasbourg, F-67000, France
| | - Matthias Pauly
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Institut Charles Sadron UPR22, Strasbourg, F-67000, France
- International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0044, Japan
| | - Yann Battie
- Université de Lorraine, LCP-A2MC, Metz, F-57078, France
| | - Gero Decher
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Institut Charles Sadron UPR22, Strasbourg, F-67000, France
- International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0044, Japan
- International Center for Frontier Research in Chemistry, Strasbourg, F-67083, France
| | - Vincent Le Houérou
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Institut Charles Sadron UPR22, Strasbourg, F-67000, France
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, ICube UMR 7357, Illkirch, F-67412, France
| | - Olivier Felix
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Institut Charles Sadron UPR22, Strasbourg, F-67000, France
- International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0044, Japan
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4
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Frka-Petesic B, Parton TG, Honorato-Rios C, Narkevicius A, Ballu K, Shen Q, Lu Z, Ogawa Y, Haataja JS, Droguet BE, Parker RM, Vignolini S. Structural Color from Cellulose Nanocrystals or Chitin Nanocrystals: Self-Assembly, Optics, and Applications. Chem Rev 2023; 123:12595-12756. [PMID: 38011110 PMCID: PMC10729353 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Widespread concerns over the impact of human activity on the environment have resulted in a desire to replace artificial functional materials with naturally derived alternatives. As such, polysaccharides are drawing increasing attention due to offering a renewable, biodegradable, and biocompatible feedstock for functional nanomaterials. In particular, nanocrystals of cellulose and chitin have emerged as versatile and sustainable building blocks for diverse applications, ranging from mechanical reinforcement to structural coloration. Much of this interest arises from the tendency of these colloidally stable nanoparticles to self-organize in water into a lyotropic cholesteric liquid crystal, which can be readily manipulated in terms of its periodicity, structure, and geometry. Importantly, this helicoidal ordering can be retained into the solid-state, offering an accessible route to complex nanostructured films, coatings, and particles. In this review, the process of forming iridescent, structurally colored films from suspensions of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) is summarized and the mechanisms underlying the chemical and physical phenomena at each stage in the process explored. Analogy is then drawn with chitin nanocrystals (ChNCs), allowing for key differences to be critically assessed and strategies toward structural coloration to be presented. Importantly, the progress toward translating this technology from academia to industry is summarized, with unresolved scientific and technical questions put forward as challenges to the community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Frka-Petesic
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
- International
Institute for Sustainability with Knotted Chiral Meta Matter (WPI-SKCM), Hiroshima University, 1-3-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-8526, Japan
| | - Thomas G. Parton
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Camila Honorato-Rios
- Department
of Sustainable and Bio-inspired Materials, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Aurimas Narkevicius
- B
CUBE − Center for Molecular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Kevin Ballu
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Qingchen Shen
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Zihao Lu
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Yu Ogawa
- CERMAV-CNRS,
CS40700, 38041 Grenoble cedex 9, France
| | - Johannes S. Haataja
- Department
of Applied Physics, Aalto University School
of Science, P.O. Box
15100, Aalto, Espoo FI-00076, Finland
| | - Benjamin E. Droguet
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Richard M. Parker
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Silvia Vignolini
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
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5
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Parker RM, Parton TG, Chan CLC, Bay M, Frka-Petesic B, Vignolini S. Bioinspired Photonic Materials from Cellulose: Fabrication, Optical Analysis, and Applications. ACCOUNTS OF MATERIALS RESEARCH 2023; 4:522-535. [PMID: 37383657 PMCID: PMC10294254 DOI: 10.1021/accountsmr.3c00019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
Polysaccharides are a class of biopolymers that are widely exploited in living organisms for a diversity of applications, ranging from structural reinforcement to energy storage. Among the numerous types of polysaccharides found in the natural world, cellulose is the most abundant and widespread, as it is found in virtually all plants. Cellulose is typically organized into nanoscale crystalline fibrils within the cell wall to give structural integrity to plant tissue. However, in several species, such fibrils are organized into helicoidal nanostructures with a periodicity comparable to visible light (i.e., in the range 250-450 nm), resulting in structural coloration. As such, when taking bioinspiration as a design principle, it is clear that helicoidal cellulose architectures are a promising approach to developing sustainable photonic materials. Different forms of cellulose-derived materials have been shown to produce structural color by exploiting self-assembly processes. For example, crystalline nanoparticles of cellulose can be extracted from natural sources, such as cotton or wood, by strong acid hydrolysis. Such "cellulose nanocrystals" (CNCs) have been shown to form colloidal suspensions in water that can spontaneously self-organize into a cholesteric liquid crystal phase, mimicking the natural helicoidal architecture. Upon drying, this nanoscale ordering can be retained into the solid state, enabling the specific reflection of visible light. Using this approach, colors from across the entire visible spectrum can be produced, alongside striking visual effects such as iridescence or a metallic shine. Similarly, polymeric cellulose derivatives can also organize into a cholesteric liquid crystal. In particular, edible hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) is known to produce colorful mesophases at high concentrations in water (ca. 60-70 wt %). This solution state behavior allows for interesting visual effects such as mechanochromism (enabling its use in low-cost colorimetric pressure or strain sensors), while trapping the structure into the solid state enables the production of structurally colored films, particles and 3D printed objects. In this article, we summarize the state-of-the-art for CNC and HPC-based photonic materials, encompassing the underlying self-assembly processes, strategies to design their photonic response, and current approaches to translate this burgeoning green technology toward commercial application in a wide range of sectors, from packaging to cosmetics and food. This overview is supported by a summary of the analytical techniques required to characterize these photonic materials and approaches to model their optical response. Finally, we present several unresolved scientific questions and outstanding technical challenges that the wider community should seek to address to develop these sustainable photonic materials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Chun Lam Clement Chan
- Yusuf Hamied Department of
Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Mélanie
M. Bay
- Yusuf Hamied Department of
Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Bruno Frka-Petesic
- Yusuf Hamied Department of
Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Silvia Vignolini
- Yusuf Hamied Department of
Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
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6
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Duan C, Wang B, Li J, Xu J, Zeng J, Li J, Zhao Z, Gao W, Ying G, Chen K. Switchable Circularly Polarized Signals with High Asymmetric Factor Triggered by Dual Photonic Bandgap Structure. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2022; 18:e2204199. [PMID: 36284474 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202204199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Currently, the smart photonic materials that can switch circularly polarized signals in real-time have attracted extensive attention due to numerous potential applications in information storage and photonics displays. However, the dynamically reversible switching of circularly polarized signals requires precise structural reconfiguration, which is rarely achieved in traditional biomaterials. Herein, a dual photonic bandgap (PBG) structure is constructed based on the optical propagation principle of cellulose-based photonic crystals, enabling the flexible switching of the intensity, wavelength, and direction of circularly polarized luminescence (CPL). By adjusting the fluorescence intensity and the matching degree of chiral structure, the asymmetric factor value of dual PBG structure is up to -1.47, far exceeding other cellulose-based materials. Importantly, it is demonstrated that dual CPL emission can be efficiently induced by two different PBGs, opening a new approach for on-demand switching of single and dual CPL emission. In addition, the dual PBG structure exhibits dual circularly polarized reflected signals under the circular polarizer, which perfectly embodies the applicability of multiple encryptions in QR codes. This work provides new insights into the real-time manipulation of circularly polarized signals by chiral photonic materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengliang Duan
- Plant Fiber Material Science Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Pulp and Paper Engineering, School of Light Industry and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Wu Shan, Guangzhou, 510640, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Biorefinery, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou University City, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Bin Wang
- Plant Fiber Material Science Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Pulp and Paper Engineering, School of Light Industry and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Wu Shan, Guangzhou, 510640, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Biorefinery, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou University City, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Jinpeng Li
- Plant Fiber Material Science Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Pulp and Paper Engineering, School of Light Industry and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Wu Shan, Guangzhou, 510640, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Biorefinery, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou University City, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Jun Xu
- Plant Fiber Material Science Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Pulp and Paper Engineering, School of Light Industry and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Wu Shan, Guangzhou, 510640, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Biorefinery, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou University City, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Jinsong Zeng
- Plant Fiber Material Science Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Pulp and Paper Engineering, School of Light Industry and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Wu Shan, Guangzhou, 510640, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Biorefinery, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou University City, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Jun Li
- Plant Fiber Material Science Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Pulp and Paper Engineering, School of Light Industry and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Wu Shan, Guangzhou, 510640, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Biorefinery, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou University City, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Zujin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Luminescence from Molecular Aggregates, South China University of Technology, Wu Shan, Guangzhou, 510640, China
| | - Wenhua Gao
- Plant Fiber Material Science Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Pulp and Paper Engineering, School of Light Industry and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Wu Shan, Guangzhou, 510640, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Biorefinery, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou University City, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Guangdong Ying
- Shandong Sun Holdings Group, No. 1 Youyi Road, Yanzhou District, Jining, 272100, China
| | - Kefu Chen
- Plant Fiber Material Science Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Pulp and Paper Engineering, School of Light Industry and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Wu Shan, Guangzhou, 510640, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Biorefinery, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou University City, Guangzhou, 510006, China
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7
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Gallant GJ, Bisson JF. Polarization eigenstates analysis of helically structured thin films. OPTICS EXPRESS 2022; 30:35500-35515. [PMID: 36258500 DOI: 10.1364/oe.471972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The optical properties of thin films are generally determined by direct photometric quantities. We show that additional insight into the properties of anisotropic thin films can be obtained by computing the polarization eigenstates and eigenvalues of their Jones matrices. We consider helically structured thin films, which display intriguing optical response, such as the circular Bragg resonance. Using numerical simulations and actual measurements, we show that the eigenvectors are mutually orthogonal in most regions of the wavevector space, except near the circular Bragg and the oblique resonances. Special wavevector values, called exceptional points, are found where the Jones matrix becomes defective and its eigenvectors coalesce. Exceptional points are also found in pairs of wavevector values differing only by a sample rotation by π around the direction normal to the sample; this property is shown to arise from Saxton - de Hoop's reciprocity principle, which applies to lossy materials and contains time reversal symmetry, which only applies to lossless materials, as a special case.
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8
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Montroni D, Di Giosia M, Calvaresi M, Falini G. Supramolecular Binding with Lectins: A New Route for Non-Covalent Functionalization of Polysaccharide Matrices. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27175633. [PMID: 36080399 PMCID: PMC9457544 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27175633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The chemical functionalization of polysaccharides to obtain functional materials has been of great interest in the last decades. This traditional synthetic approach has drawbacks, such as changing the crystallinity of the material or altering its morphology or texture. These modifications are crucial when a biogenic matrix is exploited for its hierarchical structure. In this work, the use of lectins and carbohydrate-binding proteins as supramolecular linkers for polysaccharide functionalization is proposed. As proof of concept, a deproteinized squid pen, a hierarchically-organized β-chitin matrix, was functionalized using a dye (FITC) labeled lectin; the lectin used was the wheat germ agglutinin (WGA). It has been observed that the binding of this functionalized protein homogenously introduces a new property (fluorescence) into the β-chitin matrix without altering its crystallographic and hierarchical structure. The supramolecular functionalization of polysaccharides with protein/lectin molecules opens up new routes for the chemical modification of polysaccharides. This novel approach can be of interest in various scientific fields, overcoming the synthetic limits that have hitherto hindered the technological exploitation of polysaccharides-based materials.
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9
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Narkevicius A, Parker RM, Ferrer-Orri J, Parton TG, Lu Z, van de Kerkhof GT, Frka-Petesic B, Vignolini S. Revealing the Structural Coloration of Self-Assembled Chitin Nanocrystal Films. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2022; 34:e2203300. [PMID: 35623033 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202203300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The structural coloration of arthropods often arises from helicoidal structures made primarily of chitin. Although it is possible to achieve analogous helicoidal architectures by exploiting the self-assembly of chitin nanocrystals (ChNCs), to date no evidence of structural coloration has been reported from such structures. Previous studies are identified to have been constrained by both the experimental inability to access sub-micrometer helicoidal pitches and the intrinsically low birefringence of crystalline chitin. To expand the range of accessible pitches, here, ChNCs are isolated from two phylogenetically distinct sources of α-chitin, namely fungi and shrimp, while to increase the birefringence, an in situ alkaline treatment is performed, increasing the intensity of the reflected color by nearly two orders of magnitude. By combining this treatment with precise control over ChNC suspension formulation, structurally colored chitin-based films are demonstrated with reflection tunable from blue to near infrared.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurimas Narkevicius
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Richard M Parker
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Jordi Ferrer-Orri
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Thomas G Parton
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Zihao Lu
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Gea T van de Kerkhof
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Bruno Frka-Petesic
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Silvia Vignolini
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
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10
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Kaschuk JJ, Al Haj Y, Rojas OJ, Miettunen K, Abitbol T, Vapaavuori J. Plant-Based Structures as an Opportunity to Engineer Optical Functions in Next-Generation Light Management. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2022; 34:e2104473. [PMID: 34699648 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202104473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
This review addresses the reconstruction of structural plant components (cellulose, lignin, and hemicelluloses) into materials displaying advanced optical properties. The strategies to isolate the main building blocks are discussed, and the effects of fibrillation, fibril alignment, densification, self-assembly, surface-patterning, and compositing are presented considering their role in engineering optical performance. Then, key elements that enable lignocellulosic to be translated into materials that present optical functionality, such as transparency, haze, reflectance, UV-blocking, luminescence, and structural colors, are described. Mapping the optical landscape that is accessible from lignocellulosics is shown as an essential step toward their utilization in smart devices. Advanced materials built from sustainable resources, including those obtained from industrial or agricultural side streams, demonstrate enormous promise in optoelectronics due to their potentially lower cost, while meeting or even exceeding current demands in performance. The requirements are summarized for the production and application of plant-based optically functional materials in different smart material applications and the review is concluded with a perspective about this active field of knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joice Jaqueline Kaschuk
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, Box 16300, Aalto, Espoo, 00076, Finland
| | - Yazan Al Haj
- Department of Chemistry and Materials Science, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, Aalto, FI-00076, Finland
| | - Orlando J Rojas
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, Box 16300, Aalto, Espoo, 00076, Finland
- Bioproducts Institute, Departments of Chemical Engineering, Department of Biological Engineering, Department of Chemistry, Department of Wood Science, 2360 East Mall, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Kati Miettunen
- Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Technology, University of Turku, Turku, FI-20500, Finland
| | - Tiffany Abitbol
- RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Stockholm, SE-114 28, Sweden
| | - Jaana Vapaavuori
- Department of Chemistry and Materials Science, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, Aalto, FI-00076, Finland
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11
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Gao Y, Luo Y, Lu J. High-Reflective Templated Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Filters. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26226889. [PMID: 34833978 PMCID: PMC8619078 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26226889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cholesteric liquid crystals (CLCs) have been widely applied in optical filters due to Bragg reflection caused by their helical structure. However, the reflectivity of CLC filters is relatively low, commonly less than 50%, as the filters can only reflect light polarized circularly either left- or right-handedly. Therefore, a high-reflective CLC filter with a single-layer template was proposed which may reflect both right- and left-handed polarized light. The CLC filters of the red, green, blue color were fabricated by the templating technology, which show good wavelength consistency. Additionally, a multi-phase liquid crystal filter with high reflectance was demonstrated by the single-layer templating technology. The templated CLC or multi-phase liquid crystal filters show great potential applications in the optical community, reflective display, and lasing.
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12
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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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13
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Chen J, Du S, Pan L, Hao N, Zhang X, Fu Y. The compressive property of a fiber‐reinforced resin beetle elytron plate and its influence mechanism. J Appl Polym Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/app.50692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jinxiang Chen
- Key Laboratory of Concrete and Prestressed Concrete Structures of the Ministry of Education Southeast University Nanjing China
| | - Shengchen Du
- Key Laboratory of Concrete and Prestressed Concrete Structures of the Ministry of Education Southeast University Nanjing China
| | - Longcheng Pan
- Key Laboratory of Concrete and Prestressed Concrete Structures of the Ministry of Education Southeast University Nanjing China
| | - Ning Hao
- Key Laboratory of Concrete and Prestressed Concrete Structures of the Ministry of Education Southeast University Nanjing China
| | - Xiaoming Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Concrete and Prestressed Concrete Structures of the Ministry of Education Southeast University Nanjing China
| | - Yaqin Fu
- College of Materials and Textiles Zhejiang Sci‐Tech University Hangzhou Zhejiang China
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14
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Tao J, Li J, Yu X, Wei L, Xu Y. Lateral Gradient Ambidextrous Optical Reflection in Self-Organized Left-Handed Chiral Nematic Cellulose Nanocrystals Films. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 9:608965. [PMID: 33614610 PMCID: PMC7892906 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.608965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Artificial photonic materials displaying ordered reflected color patterns are desirable in the field of photonic technologies, however, it is challenging to realize. Here we present that self-assembly of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) in a tilted cuvette leads to the formation of rainbow color CNC films. We show that the self-organized CNC films enable simultaneous reflection of left-handed circularly polarized (LCP) and right-handed circularly polarized (RCP) light with lateral gradient transmittance ratio (LCP/RCP: 8.7–0.9) and the maximum reflectance value up to ca. 72%. This unique ambidextrous optical reflection arises from left-handed chiral photonic architectures with lateral gradient photonic bandgaps and nematic-like defects at the film-substrate interface and between left-handed photonic bandgap layers acting as a half-wavelength retarder. We demonstrate that the tilted angle self-assembly method provides a feasible step toward color patterning of CNC-based photonic films capable of ambidextrous optical reflection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiawei Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Preparative Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jiaqi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Preparative Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xiao Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Preparative Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Lihong Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Preparative Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yan Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Preparative Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun, China
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15
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Chagas R, Silva PES, Fernandes SN, Žumer S, Godinho MH. Playing the blues, the greens and the reds with cellulose-based structural colours. Faraday Discuss 2020; 223:247-260. [PMID: 32747884 DOI: 10.1039/d0fd00020e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Structural vivid colours can arise from the interference of light reflected from structures exhibiting periodicity on scales in the range of visible wavelengths. This effect is observed with light reflected from cell-walls of some plants and exoskeletons of certain insects. Sometimes the colour sequence observed for these structures consists of nearly circular concentric rings that vary in colour from Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Cyan to Blue, from the periphery to the centre, similarly to the colour scheme sequence observed for the rainbow (ROYGB). The sequence of colours has been found for solid films obtained from droplets of aqueous cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) suspensions and attributed to a "coffee ring" effect. In this work, coloured lyotropic solutions and solid films obtained from a cellulose derivative in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), which acts as a "reactive solvent", are revisited. The systems were investigated with spectroscopy, using circularly and linearly polarised light, coupled with a polarised optical microscope (POM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The lyotropic cholesteric liquid crystalline solutions were confined in capillaries to simplify 1D molecular diffusion along the capillary where an unexpected sequence of the structural colours was observed. The development and reappearance of the sequence of vivid colours seem consistent with the reaction-diffusion of the "reactive solvent" in the presence of the cellulosic chains. The strong TFA acts as an auto-catalyst for the chemical reaction between TFA and the hydroxyl groups, existing along the cellulosic chain, and diffuses to the top and bottom along the capillaries, carrying dissolved cellulosic chains. Uncovering the precise mechanism of colour sequence and evolution over time in cellulosic lyotropic solutions has important implications for future optical/sensors applications and for the understanding of the development of cellulose-based structures in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Chagas
- i3N/CENIMAT, Department of Materials Science, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, Campus de Caparica, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal.
| | - Pedro E S Silva
- i3N/CENIMAT, Department of Materials Science, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, Campus de Caparica, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal.
| | - Susete N Fernandes
- i3N/CENIMAT, Department of Materials Science, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, Campus de Caparica, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal.
| | - Slobodan Žumer
- Jozef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia and Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Maria Helena Godinho
- i3N/CENIMAT, Department of Materials Science, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, Campus de Caparica, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal.
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16
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Wang L, Urbas AM, Li Q. Nature-Inspired Emerging Chiral Liquid Crystal Nanostructures: From Molecular Self-Assembly to DNA Mesophase and Nanocolloids. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2020; 32:e1801335. [PMID: 30160812 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201801335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 152] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2018] [Revised: 05/17/2018] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Liquid crystals (LCs) are omnipresent in living matter, whose chirality is an elegant and distinct feature in certain plant tissues, the cuticles of crabs, beetles, arthropods, and beyond. Taking inspiration from nature, researchers have recently devoted extensive efforts toward developing chiral liquid crystalline materials with self-organized nanostructures and exploring their potential applications in diverse fields ranging from dynamic photonics to energy and safety issues. In this review, an account on the state of the art of emerging chiral liquid crystalline nanostructured materials and their technological applications is provided. First, an overview on the significance of chiral liquid crystalline architectures in various living systems is given. Then, the recent significant progress in different chiral liquid crystalline systems including thermotropic LCs (cholesteric LCs, cubic blue phases, achiral bent-core LCs, etc.) and lyotropic LCs (DNA LCs, nanocellulose LCs, and graphene oxide LCs) is showcased. The review concludes with a perspective on the future scope, opportunities, and challenges in these truly advanced functional soft materials and their promising applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Wang
- Liquid Crystal Institute and Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44242, USA
| | - Augustine M Urbas
- Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, 45433, USA
| | - Quan Li
- Liquid Crystal Institute and Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44242, USA
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17
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Scarangella A, Soldan V, Mitov M. Biomimetic design of iridescent insect cuticles with tailored, self-organized cholesteric patterns. Nat Commun 2020; 11:4108. [PMID: 32796840 PMCID: PMC7429863 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17884-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Replicating biological patterns is promising for designing materials with multifaceted properties. Twisted cholesteric liquid crystal patterns are found in the iridescent tessellated cuticles of many insects and a few fruits. Their accurate replication is extremely difficult since discontinuous patterns and colors must coexist in a single layer without discontinuity of the structures. Here, a solution is demonstrated by addressing striped insect cuticles with a complex twisted organization. Geometric constraints are met by controlling the thermal diffusion in a cholesteric oligomer bilayer subjected to local changes in the molecular anchoring conditions. A multicriterion comparison reveals a very high level of biomimicry. Proof-of-concept prototypes of anti-counterfeiting tags are presented. The present design involves an economy of resources and a high versatility of chiral patterns unreached by the current manufacturing techniques such as metallic layer vacuum deposition, template embossing and various forms of lithography which are limited and often prohibitively expensive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Scarangella
- Centre d'Elaboration de Matériaux et d'Etudes Structurales, CEMES, CNRS, Toulouse, France
| | - Vanessa Soldan
- Centre de Biologie Intégrative, CBI, Microscopie Electronique Intégrative, METi, CNRS, University of Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Michel Mitov
- Centre d'Elaboration de Matériaux et d'Etudes Structurales, CEMES, CNRS, Toulouse, France.
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18
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Bagge LE, Kenton AC, Lyons BA, Wehling MF, Goldstein DH. Mueller matrix characterizations of circularly polarized reflections from golden scarab beetles. APPLIED OPTICS 2020; 59:F85-F93. [PMID: 32749282 DOI: 10.1364/ao.398832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Circularly polarized light (CPL) reflections are rare in nature. Only a few animal groups-most notably certain stomatopod crustaceans and certain beetles in the family Scarabaeidae-are known to reflect CPL from incident unpolarized light. Here, we examine five species of metallic scarabs in the genus Chrysina that, to the naked human eye, look remarkably similar. Using a spectropolarimetric reflectometer to characterize the complete Mueller matrix elements of the beetles' elytral surfaces, we found that four of the five species were strongly left-handed circularly polarized (LHCP), and only one scarab species, Chrysina resplendens, had an overall lower degree of polarization and switched from LHCP to right-handed circularly polarized reflectance depending on wavelength.
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19
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Xiong R, Luan J, Kang S, Ye C, Singamaneni S, Tsukruk VV. Biopolymeric photonic structures: design, fabrication, and emerging applications. Chem Soc Rev 2020; 49:983-1031. [PMID: 31960001 DOI: 10.1039/c8cs01007b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Biological photonic structures can precisely control light propagation, scattering, and emission via hierarchical structures and diverse chemistry, enabling biophotonic applications for transparency, camouflaging, protection, mimicking and signaling. Corresponding natural polymers are promising building blocks for constructing synthetic multifunctional photonic structures owing to their renewability, biocompatibility, mechanical robustness, ambient processing conditions, and diverse surface chemistry. In this review, we provide a summary of the light phenomena in biophotonic structures found in nature, the selection of corresponding biopolymers for synthetic photonic structures, the fabrication strategies for flexible photonics, and corresponding emerging photonic-related applications. We introduce various photonic structures, including multi-layered, opal, and chiral structures, as well as photonic networks in contrast to traditionally considered light absorption and structural photonics. Next, we summarize the bottom-up and top-down fabrication approaches and physical properties of organized biopolymers and highlight the advantages of biopolymers as building blocks for realizing unique bioenabled photonic structures. Furthermore, we consider the integration of synthetic optically active nanocomponents into organized hierarchical biopolymer frameworks for added optical functionalities, such as enhanced iridescence and chiral photoluminescence. Finally, we present an outlook on current trends in biophotonic materials design and fabrication, including current issues, critical needs, as well as promising emerging photonic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Xiong
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332-0245, USA.
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20
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Xiong R, Yu S, Kang S, Adstedt KM, Nepal D, Bunning TJ, Tsukruk VV. Integration of Optical Surface Structures with Chiral Nanocellulose for Enhanced Chiroptical Properties. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2020; 32:e1905600. [PMID: 31773827 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201905600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2019] [Revised: 11/02/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The integration of chiral organization with photonic structures found in many living creatures enables unique chiral photonic structures with a combination of selective light reflection, light propagation, and circular dichroism. Inspired by these natural integrated nanostructures, hierarchical chiroptical systems that combine imprinted surface optical structures with the natural chiral organization of cellulose nanocrystals are fabricated. Different periodic photonic surface structures with rich diffraction phenomena, including various optical gratings and microlenses, are replicated into nanocellulose film surfaces over large areas. The resulting films with embedded optical elements exhibit vivid, controllable structural coloration combined with highly asymmetric broadband circular dichroism and a microfocusing capability not typically found in traditional photonic bioderived materials without compromising their mechanical strength. The strategy of imprinting surface optical structures onto chiral biomaterials facilitates a range of prospective photonic applications, including stereoscopic displays, polarization encoding, chiral polarizers, and colorimetric chiral biosensing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Xiong
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332-0245, USA
| | - Shengtao Yu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332-0245, USA
| | - Saewon Kang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332-0245, USA
| | - Katarina M Adstedt
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332-0245, USA
| | - Dhriti Nepal
- Air Force Research Laboratory, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, OH, 45433, USA
| | - Timothy J Bunning
- Air Force Research Laboratory, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, OH, 45433, USA
| | - Vladimir V Tsukruk
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332-0245, USA
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21
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Ren J, Wang Y, Yao Y, Wang Y, Fei X, Qi P, Lin S, Kaplan DL, Buehler MJ, Ling S. Biological Material Interfaces as Inspiration for Mechanical and Optical Material Designs. Chem Rev 2019; 119:12279-12336. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.9b00416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jing Ren
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Yuan Yao
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Yang Wang
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Xiang Fei
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, International Joint Laboratory for Advanced Fiber and Low-Dimension Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Ping Qi
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Shihui Lin
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - David L. Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Markus J. Buehler
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Shengjie Ling
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai 201210, China
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22
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Zhang R, Chu G, Vasilyev G, Martin P, Camposeo A, Persano L, Pisignano D, Zussman E. Hybrid Nanocomposites for 3D Optics: Using Interpolymer Complexes with Cellulose Nanocrystals. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2019; 11:19324-19330. [PMID: 31058491 PMCID: PMC6543505 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.9b01699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2019] [Accepted: 05/06/2019] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Manipulation of optical paths by three-dimensional (3D) integrated optics with customized stacked building blocks has gained considerable attention. Herein, we present functional thin films with assembly ability for 3D integrated optics based on nanocomposites made of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) embedded in hydrogen-bonded (H-bonded) interpolymer complexes (IPCs). We selected H-bonded IPC poly(ethylene oxide) and neutralized poly(acrylic acid) to render films assembly ability without undesired interplay with charge distribution in CNCs. The CNCs can form a stable chiral nematic liquid crystalline phase with long-range orientational order and helical organization. The resulting nanocomposites are characterized with a high elastic modulus of 8.8 GPa and an adhesion strength of 1.35 MPa through reversible intermolecular interactions at the contact interface upon exposure to acidic vapor. Instead, simply stacked into 3D optics, these functional thin films serve as a facile material for providing a conceptually simple approach to assemble 3D integrated optics with different liquid crystalline orderings to manipulate the light polarization state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiyan Zhang
- NanoEngineering
Group, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel
| | - Guang Chu
- NanoEngineering
Group, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel
| | - Gleb Vasilyev
- NanoEngineering
Group, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel
| | - Patrick Martin
- NanoEngineering
Group, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel
| | - Andrea Camposeo
- NEST,
Instituto Nanoscienze-CNR and Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza S. Silvestro 12, I-56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Luana Persano
- NEST,
Instituto Nanoscienze-CNR and Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza S. Silvestro 12, I-56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Dario Pisignano
- Dipartimento
di Fisica “Enrico Fermi”, Università di Pisa, Largo Bruno Pontecorvo 3, I-56127 Pisa, Italy
- NEST,
Istituto Nanoscience-CNR, Piazza S. Silvestro 12, I-56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Eyal Zussman
- NanoEngineering
Group, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel
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23
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Odin GP, McNamara ME, Arwin H, Järrendahl K. Experimental degradation of helicoidal photonic nanostructures in scarab beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae): implications for the identification of circularly polarizing cuticle in the fossil record. J R Soc Interface 2018; 15:rsif.2018.0560. [PMID: 30429263 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2018.0560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2018] [Accepted: 10/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Scarab beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) can exhibit striking colours produced by pigments and/or nanostructures. The latter include helicoidal (Bouligand) structures that can generate circularly polarized light. These have a cryptic evolutionary history in part because fossil examples are unknown. This suggests either a real biological signal, i.e. that Bouligand structures did not evolve until recently, or a taphonomic signal, i.e. that conditions during the fossilization process were not conducive to their preservation. We address this issue by experimentally degrading circularly polarizing cuticle of modern scarab beetles to test the relative roles of decay, maturation and taxonomy in controlling preservation. The results reveal that Bouligand structures have the potential to survive fossilization, but preservation is controlled by taxonomy and the diagenetic history of specimens. Further, cuticle of specific genus (Chrysina) is particularly decay-prone in alkaline conditions; this may relate to the presence of certain compounds, e.g. uric acid, in the cuticle of these taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giliane P Odin
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University College Cork, Distillery Fields, North Mall, Cork T23 TK30, Ireland
| | - Maria E McNamara
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University College Cork, Distillery Fields, North Mall, Cork T23 TK30, Ireland
| | - Hans Arwin
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, 58183 Linköping, Sweden
| | - Kenneth Järrendahl
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, 58183 Linköping, Sweden
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24
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Vargas WE, Avendano E, Hernández-Jiménez M, Azofeifa DE, Libby E, Solís Á, Barboza-Aguilar C. Photonic Crystal Characterization of the Cuticles of Chrysina chrysargyrea and Chrysina optima Jewel Scarab Beetles. Biomimetics (Basel) 2018; 3:E30. [PMID: 31105252 PMCID: PMC6352678 DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics3040030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2018] [Revised: 09/08/2018] [Accepted: 09/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
A unified description involving structural morphology and composition, dispersion of optical constants, modeled and measured reflection spectra and photonic crystal characterization is devised. Light reflection spectra by the cuticles of scarab beetles (Chrysina chrysargyrea and Chrysina optima), measured in the wavelength range 300-1000 nm, show spectrally structured broad bands. Scanning electron microscopy analysis shows that the pitches of the twisted structures responsible for the left-handed circularly polarized reflected light change monotonically with depth through the cuticles, making it possible to obtain the explicit depth-dependence for each cuticle arrangement considered. This variation is a key aspect, and it will be introduced in the context of Berreman's formalism, which allows us to evaluate reflection spectra whose main features coincide in those displayed in measurements. Through the dispersion relation obtained from the Helmholtz's equation satisfied by the circular components of the propagating fields, the presence of a photonic band gap is established for each case considered. These band gaps depend on depth through the cuticle, and their spectral positions change with depth. This explains the presence of broad bands in the reflection spectra, and their spectral features correlate with details in the variation of the pitch with depth. The twisted structures consist of chitin nanofibrils whose optical anisotropy is not large enough so as to be approached from modeling the measured reflection spectra. The presence of a high birefringence substance embedded in the chitin matrix is required. In this sense, the presence of uric acid crystallites through the cuticle is strongly suggested by frustrated attenuated total reflection and Raman spectroscopy analysis. The complete optical modeling is performed incorporating the wavelength-dependent optical constants of chitin and uric acid.
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Affiliation(s)
- William E Vargas
- Centro de Investigación en Ciencia e Ingeniería de Materiales, Escuela de Física, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 2060-11501, Costa Rica.
- Academia Nacional de Ciencias de Costa Rica, San José 1367-2050, Costa Rica.
| | - Esteban Avendano
- Centro de Investigación en Ciencia e Ingeniería de Materiales, Escuela de Física, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 2060-11501, Costa Rica.
| | - Marcela Hernández-Jiménez
- Centro de Investigación en Ciencia e Ingeniería de Materiales, Escuela de Física, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 2060-11501, Costa Rica.
| | - Daniel E Azofeifa
- Centro de Investigación en Ciencia e Ingeniería de Materiales, Escuela de Física, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 2060-11501, Costa Rica.
| | - Eduardo Libby
- Centro de Investigación en Ciencia e Ingeniería de Materiales, Escuela de Química, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 2060-11501, Costa Rica.
| | - Ángel Solís
- Departamento de Historia Natural, Museo Nacional de Costa Rica, San José 749-1000, Costa Rica.
| | - Cynthia Barboza-Aguilar
- Centro de Investigación en Estructuras Microscópicas, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 2060-11501, Costa Rica.
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25
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Schroeder TBH, Houghtaling J, Wilts BD, Mayer M. It's Not a Bug, It's a Feature: Functional Materials in Insects. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2018; 30:e1705322. [PMID: 29517829 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201705322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2017] [Revised: 11/15/2017] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Over the course of their wildly successful proliferation across the earth, the insects as a taxon have evolved enviable adaptations to their diverse habitats, which include adhesives, locomotor systems, hydrophobic surfaces, and sensors and actuators that transduce mechanical, acoustic, optical, thermal, and chemical signals. Insect-inspired designs currently appear in a range of contexts, including antireflective coatings, optical displays, and computing algorithms. However, as over one million distinct and highly specialized species of insects have colonized nearly all habitable regions on the planet, they still provide a largely untapped pool of unique problem-solving strategies. With the intent of providing materials scientists and engineers with a muse for the next generation of bioinspired materials, here, a selection of some of the most spectacular adaptations that insects have evolved is assembled and organized by function. The insects presented display dazzling optical properties as a result of natural photonic crystals, precise hierarchical patterns that span length scales from nanometers to millimeters, and formidable defense mechanisms that deploy an arsenal of chemical weaponry. Successful mimicry of these adaptations may facilitate technological solutions to as wide a range of problems as they solve in the insects that originated them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas B H Schroeder
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, 2300 Hayward Street, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Chemin des Verdiers 4, 1700, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Jared Houghtaling
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Chemin des Verdiers 4, 1700, Fribourg, Switzerland
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, 2200 Bonisteel Boulevard, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Bodo D Wilts
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Chemin des Verdiers 4, 1700, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Michael Mayer
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Chemin des Verdiers 4, 1700, Fribourg, Switzerland
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Almeida APC, Canejo JP, Fernandes SN, Echeverria C, Almeida PL, Godinho MH. Cellulose-Based Biomimetics and Their Applications. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2018; 30:e1703655. [PMID: 29333680 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201703655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2017] [Revised: 09/20/2017] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Nature has been producing cellulose since long before man walked the surface of the earth. Millions of years of natural design and testing have resulted in cellulose-based structures that are an inspiration for the production of synthetic materials based on cellulose with properties that can mimic natural designs, functions, and properties. Here, five sections describe cellulose-based materials with characteristics that are inspired by gratings that exist on the petals of the plants, structurally colored materials, helical filaments produced by plants, water-responsive materials in plants, and environmental stimuli-responsive tissues found in insects and plants. The synthetic cellulose-based materials described herein are in the form of fibers and films. Fascinating multifunctional materials are prepared from cellulose-based liquid crystals and from composite cellulosic materials that combine functionality with structural performance. Future and recent applications are outlined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana P C Almeida
- i3N/CENIMAT, Department of Materials Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Campus de Caparica, 2829-516, Caparica, Portugal
| | - João P Canejo
- i3N/CENIMAT, Department of Materials Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Campus de Caparica, 2829-516, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Susete N Fernandes
- i3N/CENIMAT, Department of Materials Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Campus de Caparica, 2829-516, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Coro Echeverria
- i3N/CENIMAT, Department of Materials Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Campus de Caparica, 2829-516, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Pedro L Almeida
- i3N/CENIMAT, Department of Materials Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Campus de Caparica, 2829-516, Caparica, Portugal
- Área Departamental de Física, Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, 1959-007, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Maria H Godinho
- i3N/CENIMAT, Department of Materials Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Campus de Caparica, 2829-516, Caparica, Portugal
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Aizen R, Tao K, Rencus-Lazar S, Gazit E. Functional metabolite assemblies-a review. JOURNAL OF NANOPARTICLE RESEARCH : AN INTERDISCIPLINARY FORUM FOR NANOSCALE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 2018; 20:125. [PMID: 30713467 PMCID: PMC6354908 DOI: 10.1007/s11051-018-4217-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2018] [Accepted: 04/04/2018] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Metabolites are essential for the normal operation of cells and fulfill various physiological functions. It was recently found that in several metabolic disorders, the associated metabolites could self-assemble to generate amyloid-like structures, similar to canonical protein amyloids that have a role in neurodegenerative disorders. Yet, assemblies with typical amyloid characteristics are also known to have physiological function. In addition, many non-natural proteins and peptides presenting amyloidal properties have been used for the fabrication of functional nanomaterials. Similarly, functional metabolite assemblies are also found in nature, demonstrating various physiological roles. A notable example is the structural color formed by guanine crystals or fluorescent crystals in feline eyes responsible for enhanced night vision. Moreover, some metabolites have been used for the in vitro fabrication of functional materials, such as glycine crystals presenting remarkable piezoelectric properties or indigo films used to assemble organic semiconductive electronic devices. Therefore, we believe that the study of metabolite assemblies is not only important in order to understand their role in normal physiology and in pathology, but also paves a new route in exploring the fabrication of organic, bio-compatible materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Aizen
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, 69978 Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Kai Tao
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, 69978 Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Sigal Rencus-Lazar
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, 69978 Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Ehud Gazit
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, 69978 Tel Aviv, Israel; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Iby and Aladar Fleischman Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, 69978 Tel Aviv, Israel
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Mendoza-Galván A, Del Río LF, Järrendahl K, Arwin H. Graded pitch profile for the helicoidal broadband reflector and left-handed circularly polarizing cuticle of the scarab beetle Chrysina chrysargyrea. Sci Rep 2018; 8:6456. [PMID: 29691430 PMCID: PMC5915428 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-24761-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2017] [Accepted: 04/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The cuticle of the beetle Chrysina chrysargyrea reflects left-handed polarized light in the broad spectral range from 340 to 1000 nm. Interference oscillations in the experimental Mueller-matrix spectroscopic ellipsometry data reveal that transparent materials comprise the cuticle. A spectral analysis of the interference oscillations makes evident that the pitch profile across the cuticle is graded. The graded pitch and effective refractive indices are determined through non-linear regression analysis of the experimental Mueller matrix by using a cuticle model based on twisted biaxial dielectric slices. Non-uniformity in cuticle thickness as well as in pitch profile near the cuticle surface account for depolarizance of the Mueller matrix. Transmission electron microscopy supports the reliability of the results.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Mendoza-Galván
- Cinvestav, Unidad Querétaro, Libramiento Norponiente 2000, 76230, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - L Fernández Del Río
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, SE-58183, Linköping, Sweden
| | - K Järrendahl
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, SE-58183, Linköping, Sweden
| | - H Arwin
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, SE-58183, Linköping, Sweden.
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Feller KD, Jordan TM, Wilby D, Roberts NW. Selection of the intrinsic polarization properties of animal optical materials creates enhanced structural reflectivity and camouflage. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2018; 372:rstb.2016.0336. [PMID: 28533453 PMCID: PMC5444057 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2016.0336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Many animals use structural coloration to create bright and conspicuous visual signals. Selection of the size and shape of the optical structures animals use defines both the colour and intensity of the light reflected. The material used to create these reflectors is also important; however, animals are restricted to a limited number of materials: commonly chitin, guanine and the protein, reflectin. In this work we highlight that a particular set of material properties can also be under selection in order to increase the optical functionality of structural reflectors. Specifically, polarization properties, such as birefringence (the difference between the refractive indices of a material) and chirality (which relates to molecular asymmetry) are both under selection to create enhanced structural reflectivity. We demonstrate that the structural coloration of the gold beetle Chrysina resplendens and silvery reflective sides of the Atlantic herring, Clupea harengus are two examples of this phenomenon. Importantly, these polarization properties are not selected to control the polarization of the reflected light as a source of visual information per se. Instead, by creating higher levels of reflectivity than are otherwise possible, such internal polarization properties improve intensity-matching camouflage. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Animal coloration: production, perception, function and application’.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn D Feller
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
| | - Thomas M Jordan
- School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1SS, UK
| | - David Wilby
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
| | - Nicholas W Roberts
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
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Finlayson ED, McDonald LT, Vukusic P. Optically ambidextrous circularly polarized reflection from the chiral cuticle of the scarab beetle Chrysina resplendens. J R Soc Interface 2018; 14:rsif.2017.0129. [PMID: 28615493 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2017.0129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2017] [Accepted: 05/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The evolution of structural colour mechanisms in biological systems has given rise to many interesting optical effects in animals and plants. The instance of the scarab beetle Chrysina resplendens is particularly distinctive. Its exoskeleton has a bright, golden appearance and reflects both right-handed and left-handed circularly polarized light concurrently. The chiral nanostructure responsible for these properties is a helicoid, in which birefringent dielectric planes are assembled with an incremental rotation. This study correlates details of the beetle's circularly polarized reflectance spectra directly with physical aspects of its structural morphology. Electron micrography is used to identify and measure the physical dimensions of the key constituent components. These include a chiral multilayer configuration comprising two chirped, left-handed helicoids that are separated by a birefringent retarder. A scattering matrix technique is used to simulate the system's optical behaviour in which the roles of each component of the morphological substructure are elucidated by calculation of the fields throughout its depth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewan D Finlayson
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QL, UK
| | - Luke T McDonald
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QL, UK
| | - Pete Vukusic
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QL, UK
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Optically functional isoxanthopterin crystals in the mirrored eyes of decapod crustaceans. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:2299-2304. [PMID: 29463710 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1722531115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The eyes of some aquatic animals form images through reflective optics. Shrimp, lobsters, crayfish, and prawns possess reflecting superposition compound eyes, composed of thousands of square-faceted eye units (ommatidia). Mirrors in the upper part of the eye (the distal mirror) reflect light collected from many ommatidia onto the photosensitive elements of the retina, the rhabdoms. A second reflector, the tapetum, underlying the retina, back-scatters dispersed light onto the rhabdoms. Using microCT and cryo-SEM imaging accompanied by in situ micro-X-ray diffraction and micro-Raman spectroscopy, we investigated the hierarchical organization and materials properties of the reflective systems at high resolution and under close-to-physiological conditions. We show that the distal mirror consists of three or four layers of plate-like nanocrystals. The tapetum is a diffuse reflector composed of hollow nanoparticles constructed from concentric lamellae of crystals. Isoxanthopterin, a pteridine analog of guanine, forms both the reflectors in the distal mirror and in the tapetum. The crystal structure of isoxanthopterin was determined from crystal-structure prediction calculations and verified by comparison with experimental X-ray diffraction. The extended hydrogen-bonded layers of the molecules result in an extremely high calculated refractive index in the H-bonded plane, n = 1.96, which makes isoxanthopterin crystals an ideal reflecting material. The crystal structure of isoxanthopterin, together with a detailed knowledge of the reflector superstructures, provide a rationalization of the reflective optics of the crustacean eye.
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Carter IE, Weir K, McCall MW, Parker AR. Variation in the circularly polarized light reflection of Lomaptera (Scarabaeidae) beetles. J R Soc Interface 2017; 13:rsif.2016.0015. [PMID: 27383419 PMCID: PMC4971215 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2016.0015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2016] [Accepted: 06/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
An extended spectroscopic study on the left-through-left circularly polarized reflection spectra of a large number of beetles from the Australasian Scrabaeidae:Cetoniinae of the Lomaptera genus was undertaken. We have obtained a five-category spectral classification. The principal spectral features, which even within the genus range from blue to infrared, are related to structural chirality in the beetle shells. The detailed features of each spectral classification are related to different structural perturbations of the helix, including various pitch values and abrupt twist defects. These spectral characteristics and associated shell structures are confirmed on the basis of simple modelling. An important conclusion from our study is that the simple helical structure resulting in a single symmetric Bragg peak is not the dominant spectral type. Rather the reality is a rich tapestry of spectral types. One intriguing specimen is identified via a scanning electron micrograph to consist of a double interstitial helix leading to a particular double-peak spectrum.
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Affiliation(s)
- I E Carter
- The Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - K Weir
- The Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - M W McCall
- The Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - A R Parker
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK
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Tadepalli S, Slocik JM, Gupta MK, Naik RR, Singamaneni S. Bio-Optics and Bio-Inspired Optical Materials. Chem Rev 2017; 117:12705-12763. [PMID: 28937748 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.7b00153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 174] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Through the use of the limited materials palette, optimally designed micro- and nanostructures, and tightly regulated processes, nature demonstrates exquisite control of light-matter interactions at various length scales. In fact, control of light-matter interactions is an important element in the evolutionary arms race and has led to highly engineered optical materials and systems. In this review, we present a detailed summary of various optical effects found in nature with a particular emphasis on the materials and optical design aspects responsible for their optical functionality. Using several representative examples, we discuss various optical phenomena, including absorption and transparency, diffraction, interference, reflection and antireflection, scattering, light harvesting, wave guiding and lensing, camouflage, and bioluminescence, that are responsible for the unique optical properties of materials and structures found in nature and biology. Great strides in understanding the design principles adapted by nature have led to a tremendous progress in realizing biomimetic and bioinspired optical materials and photonic devices. We discuss the various micro- and nanofabrication techniques that have been employed for realizing advanced biomimetic optical structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sirimuvva Tadepalli
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science and Institute of Materials Science and Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis , St. Louis, Missouri 63130, United States
| | | | | | | | - Srikanth Singamaneni
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science and Institute of Materials Science and Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis , St. Louis, Missouri 63130, United States
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McDonald LT, Finlayson ED, Wilts BD, Vukusic P. Circularly polarized reflection from the scarab beetle Chalcothea smaragdina: light scattering by a dual photonic structure. Interface Focus 2017. [PMID: 28630672 DOI: 10.1098/rsfs.2016.0129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Helicoidal architectures comprising various polysaccharides, such as chitin and cellulose, have been reported in biological systems. In some cases, these architectures exhibit stunning optical properties analogous to ordered cholesteric liquid crystal phases. In this work, we characterize the circularly polarized reflectance and optical scattering from the cuticle of the beetle Chalcothea smaragdina (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae) using optical experiments, simulations and structural analysis. The selective reflection of left-handed circularly polarized light is attributed to a Bouligand-type helicoidal morphology within the beetle's exocuticle. Using electron microscopy to inform electromagnetic simulations of this anisotropic stratified medium, the inextricable connection between the colour appearance of C. smaragdina and the periodicity of its helicoidal rotation is shown. A close agreement between the model and the measured reflectance spectra is obtained. In addition, the elytral surface of C. smaragdina possesses a blazed diffraction grating-like surface structure, which affects the diffuse appearance of the beetle's reflected colour, and therefore potentially enhances crypsis among the dense foliage of its rainforest habitat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke T McDonald
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QL, UK.,School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University College Cork, North Mall Campus, Cork, Republic of Ireland
| | - Ewan D Finlayson
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QL, UK
| | - Bodo D Wilts
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Chemin des Verdiers 4, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Pete Vukusic
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QL, UK
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Abstract
Liquid crystals play an important role in biology because the combination of order and mobility is a basic requirement for self-organisation and structure formation in living systems. Cholesteric liquid crystals are omnipresent in living matter under both in vivo and in vitro conditions and address the major types of molecules essential to life. In the animal and plant kingdoms, the cholesteric structure is a recurring design, suggesting a convergent evolution to an optimised left-handed helix. Herein, we review the recent advances in the cholesteric organisation of DNA, chromatin, chitin, cellulose, collagen, viruses, silk and cholesterol ester deposition in atherosclerosis. Cholesteric structures can be found in bacteriophages, archaea, eukaryotes, bacterial nucleoids, chromosomes of unicellular algae, sperm nuclei of many vertebrates, cuticles of crustaceans and insects, bone, tendon, cornea, fish scales and scutes, cuttlebone and squid pens, plant cell walls, virus suspensions, silk produced by spiders and silkworms, and arterial wall lesions. This article specifically aims at describing the consequences of the cholesteric geometry in living matter, which are far from being fully defined and understood, and discusses various perspectives. The roles and functions of biological cholesteric liquid crystals include maximisation of packing efficiency, morphogenesis, mechanical stability, optical information, radiation protection and evolution pressure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michel Mitov
- Centre d'Elaboration de Matériaux et d'Etudes Structurales (CEMES), CNRS, BP 94347, 29 rue Jeanne-Marvig, F-31055 Toulouse Cedex 4, France.
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36
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Hiratani T, Hamad WY, MacLachlan MJ. Transparent Depolarizing Organic and Inorganic Films for Optics and Sensors. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2017; 29:1606083. [PMID: 28128872 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201606083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2016] [Revised: 12/09/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Fabrication of novel organic and inorganic depolarizing films derived from quasinematic cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) organization is demonstrated. These films convert linearly polarized and circularly polarized light into unpolarized light over the entire visible region. Patterning of the quasinematic CNCs on top of a chiral nematic film gives latent images that are revealed only upon observation through the circularly polarizing filters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takayuki Hiratani
- Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, 2036 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z1, Canada
| | - Wadood Y Hamad
- FPInnovations, 2665 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Mark J MacLachlan
- Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, 2036 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z1, Canada
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Agez G, Bayon C, Mitov M. Multiwavelength micromirrors in the cuticle of scarab beetle Chrysina gloriosa. Acta Biomater 2017; 48:357-367. [PMID: 27856284 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2016.11.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2016] [Revised: 11/02/2016] [Accepted: 11/13/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Beetles from the genus Chrysina show vivid reflections from bright green to metallic silver-gold as a consequence of the cholesteric liquid crystal organization of chitin molecules. Particularly, the cuticle of Chrysina gloriosa exhibits green and silver stripes. By combining confocal microscopy and spectrophotometry, scanning electron microscopy and numerical simulations, the relationship between the reflectance and the structural parameters for both stripes at the micro- and nanoscales are established. Over the visible and near IR spectra, polygonal cells in tessellated green stripes behave as multiwavelength selective micro-mirrors and the silver stripes as specular broadband mirrors. Thermoregulation, conspecifics or intra-species communication, or camouflage against predators are discussed as possible functions. As a prerequisite to bio-inspired artificial replicas, the physical characteristics of the polygonal texture in Chrysina gloriosa cuticle are compared to their equivalents in synthetic cholesteric oligomers and their fundamental differences are ascertained. It is shown that the cuticle has concave cells whereas the artificial films have convex cells, contrary to expectation and assumption in the literature. The present results may provide inspiration for fabricating multiwavelength selective micromirrors or spatial wavelength-specific light modulators. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE Many insects own a tessellated carapace with bumps, pits or indentations. Little is known on the physical properties of these geometric variations and biological functions are unknown or still debated. We show that the polygonal cells in scarab beetle Chrysina gloriosa behave as multiwavelength selective micromirrors over the visible and infrared spectra, with a variety of spatial patterns. In the context of biomimetic materials, we demonstrate that the carapace has concave cells whereas the artificial films have convex cells, contrary to expectation in the literature. Thermoregulation, communication or camouflage are discussed as advanced functions. Results may provide inspiration for fabricating spatial wavelength-specific light modulators and optical packet switching in routing technologies.
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38
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Investigation of the Variation of Near-Circular Polarization in Scarabaeoidea Beetles. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.matpr.2017.04.100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Fernandes SN, Almeida PL, Monge N, Aguirre LE, Reis D, de Oliveira CLP, Neto AMF, Pieranski P, Godinho MH. Mind the Microgap in Iridescent Cellulose Nanocrystal Films. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2017; 29:1603560. [PMID: 27862372 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201603560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2016] [Revised: 09/20/2016] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
A new photonic structure is produced from cellulose nanocrystal iridescent films reflecting both right and left circularly polarized light. Micrometer-scale planar gaps perpendicular to the films' cross-section between two different left-handed films' cholesteric domains are impregnated with a nematic liquid crystal. This photonic feature is reversibly tuned by the application of an electric field or a temperature variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susete N Fernandes
- i3N/CENIMAT, Department of Materials Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Campus de Caparica, 2829-516, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Pedro L Almeida
- i3N/CENIMAT, Department of Materials Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Campus de Caparica, 2829-516, Caparica, Portugal
- Área Departamental de Física, Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, 1959-007, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Nuno Monge
- i3N/CENIMAT, Department of Materials Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Campus de Caparica, 2829-516, Caparica, Portugal
- CIAUD, Faculty of Architecture, University of Lisbon, Rua Sá Nogueira, Pólo Universitário, Alto da Ajuda, 1349-055, Lisbon, Portugal
- CIED, Lisbon School of Education, Polytechnic Institute of Lisbon, Campus de Benfica do IPL, 1549-003, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Luis E Aguirre
- i3N/CENIMAT, Department of Materials Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Campus de Caparica, 2829-516, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Dennys Reis
- Instituto de Física, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão, 1371, 05508-090, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Cristiano L P de Oliveira
- Instituto de Física, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão, 1371, 05508-090, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - António M F Neto
- Instituto de Física, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão, 1371, 05508-090, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Pawel Pieranski
- Laboratoire de Physique des Solides, UMR 8502, Université Paris-Sud, Bât. 510, 91405, Orsay, France
| | - Maria H Godinho
- i3N/CENIMAT, Department of Materials Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Campus de Caparica, 2829-516, Caparica, Portugal
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Fu Y, Tippets CA, Donev EU, Lopez R. Structural colors: from natural to artificial systems. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-NANOMEDICINE AND NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY 2016; 8:758-75. [DOI: 10.1002/wnan.1396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2015] [Revised: 01/25/2016] [Accepted: 02/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yulan Fu
- Department of Physics and AstronomyUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillNCUSA
| | - Cary A. Tippets
- Department of Applied Physical SciencesUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillNCUSA
| | - Eugenii U. Donev
- Department of Physics and AstronomyThe University of the SouthSewaneeTNUSA
| | - Rene Lopez
- Department of Physics and AstronomyUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillNCUSA
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Bisoyi HK, Li Q. Light‐Directed Dynamic Chirality Inversion in Functional Self‐Organized Helical Superstructures. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2016; 55:2994-3010. [DOI: 10.1002/anie.201505520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 190] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2015] [Revised: 08/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hari Krishna Bisoyi
- Liquid Crystal Institute and Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program Kent State University Kent OH 44242 USA
| | - Quan Li
- Liquid Crystal Institute and Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program Kent State University Kent OH 44242 USA
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Bisoyi HK, Li Q. Lichtgesteuerte dynamische Chiralitätsumkehr in funktionalen selbstorganisierten helikalen Überstrukturen. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201505520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hari Krishna Bisoyi
- Liquid Crystal Institute and Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program Kent State University Kent OH 44242 USA
| | - Quan Li
- Liquid Crystal Institute and Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program Kent State University Kent OH 44242 USA
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Böhm A, Pass G. The ocelli of Archaeognatha (Hexapoda): Functional morphology, pigment migration and chemical nature of the reflective tapetum. J Exp Biol 2016; 219:3039-3048. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.141275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2016] [Accepted: 07/18/2016] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The ocelli of Archaeognatha, or jumping bristletails, differ from typical insect ocelli in shape and field of view. While the shape of the lateral ocelli is highly variable among species, most Machiloidea have sole shaped lateral ocelli beneath the compound eyes and a median ocellus that is oriented downward. This study investigated morphological and physiological aspects of the ocelli of Machilis hrabei and Lepismachilis spp.
The light reflecting ocellar tapetum in Machilis hrabei is made up by xanthine nanocrystals, as demonstrated by confocal Raman spectroscopy. Pigment granules in the photoreceptor cells move behind the tapetum in the dark adapted state. Such a vertical pigment migration in combination with a tapetum has not been described for any insect ocellus so far. The pigment migration has a dynamic range of around 4 log units and is maximally sensitive to green light. Adaptation from darkness to bright light lasts over an hour, which is slow compared to the radial pupil mechanism in some dragonflies and locusts.
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Coexistence of both gyroid chiralities in individual butterfly wing scales of Callophrys rubi. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015; 112:12911-6. [PMID: 26438839 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1511354112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The wing scales of the Green Hairstreak butterfly Callophrys rubi consist of crystalline domains with sizes of a few micrometers, which exhibit a congenitally handed porous chitin microstructure identified as the chiral triply periodic single-gyroid structure. Here, the chirality and crystallographic texture of these domains are investigated by means of electron tomography. The tomograms unambiguously reveal the coexistence of the two enantiomeric forms of opposite handedness: the left- and right-handed gyroids. These two enantiomers appear with nonequal probabilities, implying that molecularly chiral constituents of the biological formation process presumably invoke a chiral symmetry break, resulting in a preferred enantiomeric form of the gyroid structure. Assuming validity of the formation model proposed by Ghiradella H (1989) J Morphol 202(1):69-88 and Saranathan V, et al. (2010) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 107(26):11676-11681, where the two enantiomeric labyrinthine domains of the gyroid are connected to the extracellular and intra-SER spaces, our findings imply that the structural chirality of the single gyroid is, however, not caused by the molecular chirality of chitin. Furthermore, the wing scales are found to be highly textured, with a substantial fraction of domains exhibiting the <001> directions of the gyroid crystal aligned parallel to the scale surface normal. Both findings are needed to completely understand the photonic purpose of the single gyroid in gyroid-forming butterflies. More importantly, they show the level of control that morphogenesis exerts over secondary features of biological nanostructures, such as chirality or crystallographic texture, providing inspiration for biomimetic replication strategies for synthetic self-assembly mechanisms.
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Chen J, Xie J, Wu Z, Elbashiry EMA, Lu Y. Review of beetle forewing structures and their biomimetic applications in China: (I) On the structural colors and the vertical and horizontal cross-sectional structures. MATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING. C, MATERIALS FOR BIOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS 2015; 55:605-19. [DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2015.05.064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2015] [Revised: 03/24/2015] [Accepted: 05/21/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Review of beetle forewing structures and their biomimetic applications in China: (II) On the three-dimensional structure, modeling and imitation. MATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING. C, MATERIALS FOR BIOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS 2015; 55:620-33. [DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2015.04.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2015] [Revised: 03/02/2015] [Accepted: 04/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Wilts BD, Whitney HM, Glover BJ, Steiner U, Vignolini S. Natural Helicoidal Structures: Morphology, Self-assembly and Optical Properties. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.matpr.2014.09.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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49
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Schenk F, Wilts BD, Stavenga DG. The Japanese jewel beetle: a painter's challenge. BIOINSPIRATION & BIOMIMETICS 2013; 8:045002. [PMID: 24262911 DOI: 10.1088/1748-3182/8/4/045002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Colours as dynamic as the metallic-like hues adorning the Japanese jewel beetle have never been captured on canvas before. Unlike, and unmatched by, the chemical pigments of the artist's palette, the effect is generated by layered microstructures that refract and reflect light to make colour visible. Exclusive to nature for millions of years, such jewel-like colouration is only now being introduced to art. Sustained scientific research into nature's iridescent multilayer reflectors has recently led to the development and manufacture of analogous synthetic structures, notably innovative light interference flakes. For the first time this novel technology offers artists the exciting, yet challenging, potential to accurately depict nature's iridescence. Mimicking the Japanese jewel beetle by using paints with embedded flakes, we demonstrate that the resulting painting, just like the model, displays iridescent colours that shift with minute variation of the angle of light and viewing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Schenk
- School of Art, Birmingham Institute of Art and Design, Birmingham City University, Birmingham, UK
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Arwin H, Berlind T, Johs B, Järrendahl K. Cuticle structure of the scarab beetle Cetonia aurata analyzed by regression analysis of Mueller-matrix ellipsometric data. OPTICS EXPRESS 2013; 21:22645-22656. [PMID: 24104152 DOI: 10.1364/oe.21.022645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Since one hundred years it is known that some scarab beetles reflect elliptically and near-circular polarized light as demonstrated by Michelson for the beetle Chrysina resplendens. The handedness of the polarization is in a majority of cases left-handed but also right-handed polarization has been found. In addition, brilliant colors with metallic shine are observed. The polarization and color effects are generated in the beetle exoskeleton, the so-called cuticle. The objective of this work is to demonstrate that structural parameters and materials optical functions of these photonic structures can be extracted by advanced modeling of spectral multi-angle Mueller-matrix data recorded from beetle cuticles. A dual-rotating compensator ellipsometer is used to record normalized Mueller-matrix data in the spectral range 400 - 800 nm at angles of incidence in the range 25-75°. Analysis of data measured on the scarab beetle Cetonia aurata are presented in detail. The model used in the analysis mimics a chiral nanostructure and is based on a twisted layered structure. Given the complexity of the nanostructure, an excellent fit between experimental and model data is achieved. The obtained model parameters are the spectral variation of the refractive indices of the cuticle layers and structural parameters of the chiral structure.
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