Goh, R. (2024, December 10). From nature to nanostructures: Designing multifunctional materials through hierarchical self-assembly [Oral presentation]. The 12th Singapore International Chemistry Conference, Singapore National Institute of Chemistry, Singapore.
Abstract:
The nanostructured egg case of elasmobranchs, such as swell sharks, presents a remarkable model for achieving strength and porosity—two often conflicting properties—in a single material. This bioinspired system serves as an exemplary framework for multifunctional material design, where a balance between protective toughness and permeability is critical. The egg case's hierarchically ordered Bouligand-like nanolattice architecture not only ensures mechanical robustness but also facilitates respiratory and metabolic exchange. This unique structural organization comprises noncylindrical nanoribbons for stress distribution and a highly ordered nanolattice for enhanced permeability, providing insights into improving multifunctional membranes, fiber-reinforced composites, and mechanical metamaterials.1
Further exploration into the molecular underpinnings of this architecture revealed that the proteinaceous nanolattices form through self-assembly of collagen-like sequences. Leveraging RNA-seq and proteomics, a novel cohort of nanolattice-forming proteins was identified, consisting of a collagenous midblock flanked by protein domains that are typically associated with innate immune system. Mass spectrometry and in situ small-angle X-ray scattering revealed the critical role of cross-links in stabilizing the nanolattice structures. These findings not only deepen our understanding of the molecular self-assembly processes but also pave the way for the design of protein-based liquid crystalline elastomers and novel nanostructured materials.2
This research highlights nature's elegant solutions to material design challenges and inspires new strategies for harnessing protein self-assembly in the fabrication of advanced, multifunctional materials for diverse industrial and biomedical applications.
License type:
Publisher Copyright
Funding Info:
This research / project is supported by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research - Manufacturing, Trade, and Connectivity Young Individual Research Grants
Grant Reference no. : M23M7c0123