Crustacean‐Derived Biomimetic Components and Nanostructured Composites

Abstract

Over millions of years, the crustacean exoskeleton has evolved into a rigid, tough, and complex cuticle that is used for structural support, mobility, protection of vital organs, and defense against predation. The crustacean cuticle is characterized by a hierarchically arranged chitin fiber scaffold, mineralized predominately by calcium carbonate and/or calcium phosphate. The structural organization of the mineral and organic within the cuticle occurs over multiple length scales, resulting in a strong and tough biological composite. Here, the ultrastructural details observed in three species of crustacean are reviewed: the American lobster (Homarus americanus), the edible crab (Cancer pagurus), and the peacock mantis shrimp (Odontodactylus scyllarus). The Review concludes with a discussion of recent advances in the development of biomimetics with controlled organic scaffolding, mineralization, and the construction of nanoscale composites, inspired by the organization and formation of the crustacean cuticle.

A Sinusoidally Architected Helicoidal Biocomposite

“…Similar observations have been made with respect to the periodic region of the dactyl club and helicoidal structures found within most arthropod cuticles as well as other Submitted to 8 natural composite materials including lamellar bone, cell walls of wood and fish scales. [17,18,[28][29][30][31][32][33] Crack deflection is an extrinsic form of toughening that is well-documented in natural composite materials, specifically biomineralized tissues. [3] The periodic nature of hard and soft interfaces, in this case between alpha-chitin fibrils and hydroxyapatite crystals, results in a crack-tip shielding effect that changes the crack driving force and thereby arresting crack propagation.…”

Poriferan Chitin as a Versatile Template for Extreme Biomimetics

“…"Prestructured" naturally occurring tube-like chitin-based scaffolds (Figure 2) have so far only been isolated from demosponges. Principally, a chitin molecule has C=O, N-H and O-H functional groups, resulting in an affinity for calcium phosphates, carbonates, and silicates [67,97,112,113]. Consequently, the unique nanofibrous architecture of chitin-based scaffolds isolated from sponges ( Figure 3) can serve as a structural template for promoting biomimetic in vitro synthesis of numerous inorganic phases, both amorphous and crystalline, under selected conditions.…”

Fetuin-A adsorption and stabilization of calcium carbonate nanoparticles in a simulated body fluid

“…[1][2][3][4] For example, biocompositesinorganic materials combined with proteins, natural polymers, or other biomolecules-display greater biocompatibility than solely inorganic, synthetic materials. [4][5][6][7][8] Moving beyond the realm of 'bioinspired' to the development of novel 'self-functioning' materials, which utilize inherent chemical and biological mechanisms to carry out specific functions, allows for enhanced dynamic processes such as self-assembly, reversible adsorption/desorption, and solids precipitation and resolubilization to occur. [4][5][6][7][8] Moving beyond the realm of 'bioinspired' to the development of novel 'self-functioning' materials, which utilize inherent chemical and biological mechanisms to carry out specific functions, allows for enhanced dynamic processes such as self-assembly, reversible adsorption/desorption, and solids precipitation and resolubilization to occur.…”