Chitin–amyloid synergism and their use as sustainable structural adhesives

Abstract

Chitin, lysozyme, and lysozyme amyloids are evaluated as single-component and composite structural adhesives. A high shear strength is observed for chitin and lysozyme, which can be further improved by at least 25% upon compositing.

Nanochitin: Chemistry, Structure, Assembly, and Applications

“…Taking advantage of the capillary force in a confined area, evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) of ChNCs was achieved, generating strong ChNC superstructures with long-range ordering (Figure a1). Within such unique structure, a birefringent ChNC lamellae was formed, with ChNCs being aligned parallel to the lamellae orientation, as observed by polarized optical microscopy (POM) (Figure a1) . Upon EISA, capillary flow-induced alignment of ChNCs in suspension was considered to be the main mechanism responsible for the accumulation of nanocrystals near the three-phase contact line (Figure a2).…”

“…(a2) Schematics showing a POM image of the lamellae formation and distribution of ChNCs along the bond under capillary flow. Adapted with permission from ref . Copyright 2021 The Royal Society of Chemistry.…”

“…Nanochitin can be used as a functional additive or nanofiller, ,− by taking advantage of the inherent chemical, morphological, and biological features of nanochitin, e.g. , surface charge and chemistry, anisotropy, flexibility, fibril dimension, aspect ratio, and nitrogen content. − Hence, nanochitin enables novel material design, for instance, to reinforce different materials, , and as a biomimicry template of periodic structures (ChNC LCP). ,, This takes advantage of the combination of nematic structural properties of ChNC and a reinforcing phase to create advanced materials, showing potential uses in sensing, electrochemical, and optical applications, among others. ,,,, Templating ChNC LCP was used to synthesize silica-based mesoporous nitrogen-doped carbon films in a layered nematic organization (Figure a) . By transferring the long-range ordered organization of helicoidal ChNCs to the solid phase, a carbon film was produced and used as electrode in a supercapacitor that showed an improved electrochemical performance (Figure a).…”

“…Within such unique structure, a birefringent ChNC lamellae was formed, with ChNCs being aligned parallel to the lamellae orientation, as observed by polarized optical microscopy (POM) (Figure 23a1). 384 Upon EISA, capillary flow-induced alignment of ChNCs in suspension was considered to be the main mechanism responsible for the accumulation of nanocrystals near the three-phase contact line (Figure 23a2).…”

“…Nanochitin can be used as a functional additive or nanofiller, 338,500−504 by taking advantage of the inherent chemical, morphological, and biological features of nanochitin, e.g., surface charge and chemistry, anisotropy, flexibility, fibril dimension, aspect ratio, and nitrogen content. 505−508 Hence, nanochitin enables novel material design, 384 for instance, to reinforce different materials, 509,510 and as a biomimicry template of periodic structures (ChNC LCP). 453,456,511 This takes advantage of the combination of nematic structural properties of ChNC and a reinforcing phase to create advanced materials, showing potential uses in sensing, electrochemical, and optical applications, among others.…”