Browse
Submit Data
Databases
API
Help

Dataset Information

0 Views

0 Connections

0 Citations

0 Reanalyses

0 Downloads

Omics score: 0

Nature-Inspired Hierarchical Steels.

ABSTRACT: Materials can be made strong, but as such they are often brittle and prone to fracture when under stress. Inspired by the exceptionally strong and ductile structure of byssal threads found in certain mussels, we have designed and manufactured a multi-hierarchical steel, based on an inexpensive austenitic stainless steel, which defeats this "conflict" by possessing both superior strength and ductility. These excellent mechanical properties are realized by structurally introducing sandwich structures at both the macro- and nano-scales, the latter via an isometric, alternating, dual-phase crystal phases comprising nano-band austenite and nano-lamellar martensite, without change in chemical composition. Our experiments (transmission and scanning electron microscopy, electron back-scattered diffraction, nano-indentation and tensile tests) and micromechanics simulation results reveal a synergy of mechanisms underlying such exceptional properties. This synergy is key to the development of vastly superior mechanical properties, and may provide a unique strategy for the future development of new super strong and tough (damage-tolerant), lightweight and inexpensive structural materials.

SUBMITTER: Cao SC

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5865137 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Json Xml

Similar Datasets

Biosynthesis of Nature-Inspired Unnatural Cannabinoids.

Project description:Natural products make up a large proportion of medicine available today. Cannabinoids from the plant Cannabis sativa is one unique class of meroterpenoids that have shown a wide range of bioactivities and recently seen significant developments in their status as therapeutic agents for various indications. Their complex chemical structures make it difficult to chemically synthesize them in efficient yields. Synthetic biology has presented a solution to this through metabolic engineering in heterologous hosts. Through genetic manipulation, rare phytocannabinoids that are produced in low yields in the plant can now be synthesized in larger quantities for therapeutic and commercial use. Additionally, an exciting avenue of exploring new chemical spaces is made available as novel derivatized compounds can be produced and investigated for their bioactivities. In this review, we summarized the biosynthetic pathways of phytocannabinoids and synthetic biology efforts in producing them in heterologous hosts. Detailed mechanistic insights are discussed in each part of the pathway in order to explore strategies for creating novel cannabinoids. Lastly, we discussed studies conducted on biological targets such as CB1, CB2 and orphan receptors along with their affinities to these cannabinoid ligands with a view to inform upstream diversification efforts.

| S-EPMC8156804 | biostudies-literature

Compact and Thermosensitive Nature-inspired Micropump.

Project description:Liquid transportation without employing a bulky power source, often observed in nature, has been an essential prerequisite for smart applications of microfluidic devices. In this report, a leaf-inspired micropump (LIM) which is composed of thermo-responsive stomata-inspired membrane (SIM) and mesophyll-inspired agarose cryogel (MAC) is proposed. The LIM provides a durable flow rate of 30 ?l/h?·?cm(2) for more than 30?h at room temperature without external mechanical power source. By adapting a thermo-responsive polymer, the LIM can smartly adjust the delivery rate of a therapeutic liquid in response to temperature changes. In addition, as the LIM is compact, portable, and easily integrated into any liquid, it might be utilized as an essential component in advanced hand-held drug delivery devices.

| S-EPMC5086846 | biostudies-other

Nature-inspired total synthesis of (-)-fusarisetin A.

Project description:A concise, protecting group-free total synthesis of (-)-fusarisetin A (1) was efficiently achieved in nine steps from commercially available (S)-(-)-citronellal. The synthetic approach was inspired by our proposed biosynthesis of 1. Key transformations of our strategy include a facile construction of the decalin moiety that is produced via a stereoselective IMDA reaction and a one-pot TEMPO-induced radical cyclization/aminolysis that forms the C ring of 1. Our route is amenable to analogue synthesis for biological evaluation.

| S-EPMC3310296 | biostudies-literature

Protein Assemblies: Nature-Inspired and Designed Nanostructures.

Project description:Ordered protein assemblies are attracting interest as next-generation biomaterials with a remarkable range of structural and functional properties, leading to potential applications in biocatalysis, materials templating, drug delivery and vaccine development. This Review covers ordered protein assemblies including protein nanowires/nanofibrils, nanorings, nanotubes, designed two- and three-dimensional ordered protein lattices and protein-like cages including polyhedral virus-like cage structures. The main focus is on designed ordered protein assemblies, in which the spatial organization of the proteins is controlled by tailored noncovalent interactions (including metal ion binding interactions, electrostatic interactions and ligand-receptor interactions among others) or by careful design of modified (mutant) proteins or de novo constructs. The modification of natural protein assemblies including bacterial S-layers and cage-like and rod-like viruses to impart novel function, e.g. enzymatic activity, is also considered. A diversity of structures have been created using distinct approaches, and this Review provides a summary of the state-of-the-art in the development of these systems, which have exceptional potential as advanced bionanomaterials for a diversity of applications.

| S-EPMC7007009 | biostudies-literature

Antifouling potential of Nature-inspired sulfated compounds.

Project description:Natural products with a sulfated scaffold have emerged as antifouling agents with low or nontoxic effects to the environment. In this study 13 sulfated polyphenols were synthesized and tested for antifouling potential using the anti-settlement activity of mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis) plantigrade post-larvae and bacterial growth inhibition towards four biofilm-forming bacterial strains. Results show that some of these Nature-inspired compounds were bioactive, particularly rutin persulfate (2), 3,6-bis(?-D-glucopyranosyl) xanthone persulfate (6), and gallic acid persulfate (12) against the settlement of plantigrades. The chemical precursors of sulfated compounds 2 and 12 were also tested for anti-settlement activity and it was possible to conclude that bioactivity is associated with sulfation. While compound 12 showed the most promising anti-settlement activity (EC50?=?8.95??g.mL-1), compound 2 also caused the higher level of growth inhibition in bacteria Vibrio harveyi (EC20?=?12.5??g.mL-1). All the three bioactive compounds 2, 6, and 12 were also found to be nontoxic to the non target species Artemia salina (<10% mortality at 250??M) and Vibrio fischeri (LC50?>?1000??g.mL-1). This study put forward the relevance of synthesizing non-natural sulfated small molecules to generate new nontoxic antifouling agents.

| S-EPMC5304334 | biostudies-literature

A comprehensive database of Nature-Inspired Algorithms.

Project description:These data contain a comprehensive collection of all Nature-Inspired Algorithms. This collection is a result of two corresponding surveys, where all Nature-Inspired Algorithms that have been published to-date were gathered and preliminary data acquired. The rapidly increasing number of nature-inspired approaches makes it hard for interested researchers to keep up. Moreover, a proper taxonomy is necessary, based on specific features of the algorithms. Different taxonomies and useful insight into the application areas that the algorithms have coped with is given through these data. This article provides a detailed description of the above mentioned collection.

| S-EPMC7300069 | biostudies-literature

Nature-inspired protein ligation and its applications.

Project description:The ability to manipulate the chemical composition of proteins and peptides has been central to the development of improved polypeptide-based therapeutics and has enabled researchers to address fundamental biological questions that would otherwise be out of reach. Protein ligation, in which two or more polypeptides are covalently linked, is a powerful strategy for generating semisynthetic products and for controlling polypeptide topology. However, specialized tools are required to efficiently forge a peptide bond in a chemoselective manner with fast kinetics and high yield. Fortunately, nature has addressed this challenge by evolving enzymatic mechanisms that can join polypeptides using a diverse set of chemical reactions. Here, we summarize how such nature-inspired protein ligation strategies have been repurposed as chemical biology tools that afford enhanced control over polypeptide composition.

| S-EPMC10659114 | biostudies-literature

Nature-inspired design of motif-specific antibody scaffolds.

Project description:Aberrant changes in post-translational modifications (PTMs) such as phosphate groups underlie a majority of human diseases. However, detection and quantification of PTMs for diagnostic or biomarker applications often require PTM-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), which are challenging to generate using traditional antibody-selection methods. Here we outline a general strategy for producing synthetic, PTM-specific mAbs by engineering a motif-specific 'hot spot' into an antibody scaffold. Inspired by a natural phosphate-binding motif, we designed and selected mAb scaffolds with hot spots specific for phosphoserine, phosphothreonine or phosphotyrosine. Crystal structures of the phospho-specific mAbs revealed two distinct modes of phosphoresidue recognition. Our data suggest that each hot spot functions independently of the surrounding scaffold, as phage display antibody libraries using these scaffolds yielded >50 phospho- and target-specific mAbs against 70% of target peptides. Our motif-specific scaffold strategy may provide a general solution for rapid, robust development of anti-PTM mAbs for signaling, diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

| S-EPMC3795957 | biostudies-literature

Nature-inspired robust hydrochromic film for dual anticounterfeiting.

Project description:Nature-inspired materials have been actively developed for anticounterfeiting applications. Among a variety of stimuli-responsive anticounterfeiting strategies, hydrochromic materials exhibit reversible color change in response to moisture or water and have the advantage of being easy to authenticate. However, the security level of current hydrochromic anticounterfeiting materials is not sufficient for practical applications since they only exhibit a single anticounterfeiting function, where the information switches between visible and invisible. To improve the security level and efficiency of hydrochromic anticounterfeiting materials, here we developed a robust dual hydrochromic material via the self-assembly of polyurethane (PU)-polyelectrolytes colloids with which the desired information can not only switch between visible and invisible but also transform from one pattern to another within 3 s without the need of any external instruments. The bio-inspiration, material design and demonstrated hydrochromic properties might have profound implications for using colloidal complexes to make advanced anticounterfeiting materials.

| S-EPMC8193611 | biostudies-literature

Natural and nature-inspired stilbenoids as antiviral agents.

Project description:Viruses continue to be a major threat to human health. In the last century, pandemics occurred and resulted in significant mortality and morbidity. Natural products have been largely screened as source of inspiration for new antiviral agents. Within the huge class of plant secondary metabolites, resveratrol-derived stilbenoids present a wide structural diversity and mediate a great number of biological responses relevant for human health. However, whilst the antiviral activity of resveratrol has been extensively studied, little is known about the efficacy of its monomeric and oligomeric derivatives. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the achievements in this field, with particular emphasis on the source, chemical structures and the mechanism of action of resveratrol-derived stilbenoids against the most challenging viruses. The collected results highlight the therapeutic versatility of stilbene-containing compounds and provide a prospective insight into their potential development as antiviral agents.

| S-EPMC7335248 | biostudies-literature

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

OmicsDI is an Elixir interoperability service. Learn more ›

Tweets

OmicsDI Databases

PRIDE
PeptideAtlas
MassIVE
JPOST Repository
Physiome Model Repository

EGA
EVA
ENA
LINCS
PAXDB
Cell Collective

MetaboLights
Metabolomics Workbench
MetabolomeExpress
GNPS
BioModels
FAIRDOMHub

ArrayExpress
dbGaP
ExpressionAtlas
GEO
NODE

Information

Databases
Help
API
Contact us
Code on GitHub
Terms of use
Submit Data