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Crustacean‐Derived Biomimetic Components and Nanostructured Composites
Author(s) -
Grunenfelder Lessa Kay,
Herrera Steven,
Kisailus David
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
small
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.785
H-Index - 236
eISSN - 1613-6829
pISSN - 1613-6810
DOI - 10.1002/smll.201400559
Subject(s) - homarus , arthropod cuticle , crustacean , biomimetics , biomineralization , american lobster , cuticle (hair) , chitin , mineralization (soil science) , calcium carbonate , nanoscopic scale , materials science , nanotechnology , biology , composite material , anatomy , fishery , ecology , paleontology , insect , chitosan , biochemistry , soil water
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.