Functional significance of graded properties of insect cuticle supported by an evolutionary analysis.

Journal of the Royal Society, Interface
M JafarpourHamed Rajabi

Abstract

The exoskeleton of nearly all insects consists of a flexible core and a stiff shell. The transition between these two is often characterized by a gradual change in the stiffness. However, the functional significance of this stiffness gradient is unknown. Here by combining finite-element analysis and multi-objective optimization, we simulated the mechanical response of about 3000 unique gradients of the elastic modulus to normal contacts. We showed that materials with exponential gradients of the elastic modulus could achieve an optimal balance between the load-bearing capacity and resilience. This is very similar to the elastic modulus gradient observed in insect cuticle and, therefore, suggests cuticle adaptations to applied mechanical stresses; this is likely to facilitate the function of insect cuticle as a protective barrier. Our results further indicate that the relative thickness of compositionally different regions in insect cuticle is similar to the optimal estimation. We expect our findings to inform the design of engineered materials with improved mechanical performance.

References

Nov 7, 1973·Zeitschrift für Zellforschung und mikroskopische Anatomie·F G Barth
Sep 7, 2004·Journal of Materials Science. Materials in Medicine·M ThiemeW Grill
Jul 27, 2006·Journal of Comparative Physiology. A, Neuroethology, Sensory, Neural, and Behavioral Physiology·Pablo Perez GoodwynStanislav Gorb
Dec 20, 2007·Arthropod Structure & Development·Julian F V Vincent, Ulrike G K Wegst
May 27, 2008·Dental Materials : Official Publication of the Academy of Dental Materials·T TrainiA Piattelli
Apr 28, 2010·Annals of Biomedical Engineering·Helen H LuXinzhi Zhang
Apr 26, 2011·Acta Biomaterialia·David Klocke, Helmut Schmitz
Oct 25, 2011·Nature Materials·Robert O Ritchie
May 29, 2014·Nature Communications·Benny Bar-OnYael Politi
Dec 19, 2015·Bioinspiration & Biomimetics·Eoin ParleDavid Taylor
Jun 24, 2016·Scientific Reports·Alexander E FilippovStanislav N Gorb
Feb 22, 2017·Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials·Eoin Parle, David Taylor
Jul 21, 2017·Journal of the Royal Society, Interface·H RajabiS N Gorb
Nov 29, 2017·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Lu-Yi WangChung-Ping Lin
Oct 26, 2018·Frontiers in Physiology·Lu-Yi WangStanislav N Gorb
Apr 7, 2019·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Uroš CerkvenikSander W S Gussekloo
Jul 17, 2019·Scientific Reports·Yoko MatsumuraStanislav N Gorb
Sep 26, 2019·Soft Matter·Lu-Yi WangHamed Rajabi

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Mar 24, 2021·Acta Biomaterialia·M Andrew JansenNico M Franz

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

© 2021 Meta ULC. All rights reserved