Journal
ACTA BIOMATERIALIA
Volume 9, Issue 9, Pages 8110-8117Publisher
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2013.06.015
Keywords
Hydroid; Perisarc; DOPA; Chitin; DOPA-iron(III) complex
Funding
- Marine Biomaterials Research Center under Marine Biotechnology Program, Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Affairs, Korea
- Korea Institute of Marine Science & Technology Promotion (KIMST) [201000902] Funding Source: Korea Institute of Science & Technology Information (KISTI), National Science & Technology Information Service (NTIS)
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Many marine invertebrates utilize biomacromolecules as building blocks to form their load-bearing tissues. These polymeric tissues are appealing for their unusual physical and mechanical properties, including high hardness and stiffness, toughness and low density. Here, a marine hydroid perisarc of Aglaophenia latirostris was investigated to understand how nature designs a stiff, tough and lightweight sheathing structure. Chitin, protein and a melanin-like pigment, were found to represent 10, 17 and 60 wt.% of the perisarc, respectively. Interestingly, similar to the adhesive and coating of marine mussel byssus, a DOPA (3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine) containing protein and iron were detected in the perisarc. Resonance Raman microprobe analysis of perisarc indicates the presence of catechol-iron(III) complexes in situ, but it remains to be determined whether the DOPA-iron(III) interaction plays a cohesive role in holding the protein, chitin and melanin networks together. (C) 2013 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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