TY - JOUR A1 - Degtyar, Elena A1 - Harrington, Matthew J. A1 - Politi, Yael A1 - Fratzl, Peter T1 - The mechanical role of metal ions in biogenic protein-based materials JF - Angewandte Chemie : a journal of the Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker ; International edition N2 - Protein-metal interactions-traditionally regarded for roles in metabolic processes-are now known to enhance the performance of certain biogenic materials, influencing properties such as hardness, toughness, adhesion, and self-healing. Design principles elucidated through thorough study of such materials are yielding vital insights for the design of biomimetic metallopolymers with industrial and biomedical applications. Recent advances in the understanding of the biological structure-function relationships are highlighted here with a specific focus on materials such as arthropod biting parts, mussel byssal threads, and sandcastle worm cement. KW - adhesives KW - biomaterials KW - metal coordination KW - sacrificial bonds KW - self-healing materials Y1 - 2014 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.201404272 SN - 1433-7851 SN - 1521-3773 VL - 53 IS - 45 SP - 12026 EP - 12044 PB - Wiley-VCH CY - Weinheim ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Rusu, Viorel Marin A1 - Ng, C. H. A1 - Wilke, Max A1 - Tiersch, Brigitte A1 - Fratzl, Peter A1 - Peter, Martin G. T1 - Size-controlled hydroxyapatite nanoparticles as self-organized organic-in organic composite materials N2 - This paper presents some results concerning the size-controlled hydroxyapatite nanoparticles obtained in aqueous media in a biopolymer matrix from soluble precursors salts. Taking the inspiration from nature, where composite materials made of a polymer matrix and inorganic fillers are often found, e.g. bone, shell of crustaceans, shell of eggs, etc., the feasibility on making composite materials containing chitosan and nanosized hydroxyapatite was investigated. A stepwise co-precipitation approach was used to obtain different types of composites by means of different ratio between components. The synthesis of hydroxyapatite was carried out in the chitosan matrix from calcium chloride and sodium dihydrogenphosphate in alkaline solutions at moderate pH of 10-11 for 24 h. Our research is focused on studying and understanding the structure of this class of composites, aiming at the development of novel materials, controlled at the nanolevel scale. The X-ray diffraction technique was employed in order to study the kinetic of hydroxyapatite formation in the chitosan matrix as well as to determine the HAp crystallite sizes in the composite samples. The hydroxyapatite synthesized using this route was found to be nano-sized (15-50nm). Moreover, applying an original approach to analyze the (002) XRD diffraction peak profile of hydroxyapatite by using a sum of two Gauss functions, the bimodal distribution of nanosized hydroxyapatite within the chitosan matrix was revealed. Two types of size distribution domains such as cluster-like (between 200 and 400 nm), which are the habitat of "small" hydroxyapatite nanocrystallites and scattered-like, which are the habitat of "large" hydroxyapatite nanocrystallites was probed by TEM and CSLM. The structural features of composites suggest that self-assembly processes might be involved. The composites contain nanosized hydroxyapatite with structural features close to those of biological apatites that make them attractive for bone tissue engineering applications. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved Y1 - 2005 SN - 0142-9612 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Tritschler, Ulrich A1 - Zlotnikov, Igor A1 - Fratzl, Peter A1 - Schlaad, Helmut A1 - Gruener, Simon A1 - Coelfen, Helmut T1 - Gas barrier properties of bio-inspired Laponite-LC polymer hybrid films JF - PLoS one N2 - Bio-inspired Laponite (clay)-liquid crystal (LC) polymer composite materials with high clay fractions (>80%) and a high level of orientation of the clay platelets, i.e. with structural features similar to the ones found in natural nacre, have been shown to exhibit a promising behavior in the context of reduced oxygen transmission. Key characteristics of these bio-inspired composite materials are their high inorganic content, high level of exfoliation and orientation of the clay platelets, and the use of a LC polymer forming the organic matrix in between the Laponite particles. Each single feature may be beneficial to increase the materials gas barrier property rendering this composite a promising system with advantageous barrier capacities. In this detailed study, Laponite/LC polymer composite coatings with different clay loadings were investigated regarding their oxygen transmission rate. The obtained gas barrier performance was linked to the quality, respective Laponite content and the underlying composite micro-and nanostructure of the coatings. Most efficient oxygen barrier properties were observed for composite coatings with 83% Laponite loading that exhibit a structure similar to sheet-like nacre. Further on, advantageous mechanical properties of these Laponite/LC polymer composites reported previously give rise to a multifunctional composite system. KW - gas permeation KW - liquid crystal KW - Laponite KW - liquid crystal polymer KW - bio-inspired KW - organic-inorganic composite material KW - self-organization Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-3190/11/3/035005 SN - 1748-3182 SN - 1748-3190 VL - 11 PB - IOP Publ. Ltd. CY - Bristol ER -