Sensing surface morphology of biofibers by decorating spider silk and cellulosic filaments with nematic microdroplets

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Luis E AguirreSlobodan Žumer

Abstract

Probing the surface morphology of microthin fibers such as naturally occurring biofibers is essential for understanding their structural properties, biological function, and mechanical performance. The state-of-the-art methods for studying the surfaces of biofibers are atomic force microscopy imaging and scanning electron microscopy, which well characterize surface geometry of the fibers but provide little information on the local interaction potential of the fibers with the surrounding material. In contrast, complex nematic fluids respond very well to external fields and change their optical properties upon such stimuli. Here we demonstrate that liquid crystal droplets deposited on microthin biofibers--including spider silk and cellulosic fibers--reveal characteristics of the fibers' surface, performing as simple but sensitive surface sensors. By combining experiments and numerical modeling, different types of fibers are identified through the fiber-to-nematic droplet interactions, including perpendicular and axial or helicoidal planar molecular alignment. Spider silks align nematic molecules parallel to fibers or perpendicular to them, whereas cellulose aligns the molecules unidirectionally or helicoidally along the fibers, i...Continue Reading

References

May 26, 1999·International Journal of Biological Macromolecules·B MadsenF Vollrath
Mar 30, 2001·Nature·F Vollrath, D P Knight
Aug 29, 2003·Nature·Hyoung-Joon Jin, David L Kaplan
Feb 3, 2012·Nature·Steven W CranfordMarkus J Buehler
Feb 21, 2013·Nature Materials·Eugene Terentjev
Dec 20, 2013·Advanced Materials·Hannes C SchnieppFritz Vollrath
Apr 18, 2015·Nature Chemical Biology·Anna Rising, Jan Johansson

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Mar 18, 2017·The European Physical Journal. E, Soft Matter·Mallory DazzaPawel Pieranski
Jan 16, 2018·Advanced Materials·Ana P C AlmeidaMaria H Godinho
Jun 28, 2018·Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics : PCCP·Haitao YuXuehua Zhang
Apr 15, 2016·Physical Review. E·Simon ČoparSlobodan Žumer
May 15, 2018·Advanced Materials·Mathew SchwartzJan P F Lagerwall
Jun 15, 2019·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Ana P AlmeidaMaria Helena Godinho
Nov 20, 2016·Advanced Materials·Susete N FernandesMaria H Godinho
Oct 22, 2016·Soft Matter·Alexandre DarmonTeresa Lopez-Leon

❮ 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.

Related Papers

Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics
V M O BatistaM M Telo da Gama
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved