Biological Materials Science: Biological Materials Science VI
Sponsored by: TMS Functional Materials Division, TMS: Biomaterials Committee
Program Organizers: Jing Du, Pennsylvania State University; David Restrepo, University of Texas at San Antonio; Steven Naleway, University of Utah; Ning Zhang, Baylor University; Ling Li, University of Pennsylvania
Wednesday 2:00 PM
March 22, 2023
Room: Sapphire 402
Location: Hilton
Session Chair: Debora Lyn Porter, University of Utah; Jeffrey Bates, University of Utah
2:00 PM
Understanding the Fibrous Nodal Design at the Sieve Plate of Glass Sponge E. aspergillum: A Structural-mechanical Exploration: Hongshun Chen1; Ling Li1; 1Virginia Tech
The silica-based lattice skeleton of the glass sponge Euplectella aspergillum has been extensively explored and demonstrated to be an excellent model system for bio-inspired lattices. However, the multiscale structures and mechanics of the sieve plate—a lattice cap—has never been explored. Here, we perform the structural-mechanical analysis of the net-like sieve plate. Firstly, the Voronoi-like network of the sieve plate is analyzed by using an index of regularity, which reveals a value of ~0.7, indicating the improved fracture toughness. Secondly, based on µ-CT imaging, we devise a workflow to extract the structural information of individual sieve plate node which is based on fused spicule bundles. Thirdly, we carry out ex-situ and synchrotron in-situ compression experiments on the sieve plate nodes. They demonstrate the successive failure and good energy absorption capability despite the brittle silica constituent, which is attributed to the de-lamination of spicules and cracking at the inter-spicule connections.
2:20 PM
Multi-scale Biomechanical Analysis of Fungal Sporocarps and Their Constitutive Components: Debora Lyn Porter1; Bryn Dentinger1; Steven Naleway1; 1University of Utah
The current understanding of fungal biomechanics, including their material and structural properties is limited. A biomechanical study was completed on three types of representative fungal sporocarps (mushrooms): monomitic, dimitic, and trimitic. Imaging was completed on the samples to characterize the microstructures of the sporocarps. Mechanical testing was completed at different length scales to characterize both the properties of the sporocarps on the macro scale as well as the hyphae, the main constitutive material of filamentous fungi. Theoretical modeling was completed to estimate the mechanical properties of the hyphae and compared to properties found by testing at the nanoscale. By combining the analysis of these fungal structures on different length scales, a more accurate understanding of the material and mechanical properties of fungal sporocarps and hyphae is achieved. This understanding may help in the future design and development of fungi-based materials, a growing field of research and product development.
2:40 PM
A Review of Nanovanadium Compounds for Cancer Cell Therapy: Ikhazuagbe Ifijen1; Nyaknno U. Udokpoh1; Muniratu Maliki2; Esther Ikhuoria3; Efosa Obazee1; 1Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria; 2Edo State University, Uzairue; 3University of Benin
Several vanadium compounds have shown promise as chemotherapeutics during the last few years. Vanadium compounds' rapid elimination from the body and potential toxicity have, nevertheless, impeded their ongoing expansion. In addition to circumventing these constraints, vanadium-based nanomaterials benefit from the intrinsic photics and magnetic properties of vanadium, which make them a multimodal platform for the detection and treatment of cancer. This review outlined the numerous studies that looked into the prospect of treating cancer cells with nanovanadium compounds over the years. The essential biological and pharmacological activities of vanadium-nanobased materials in cancer treatment are also highlighted. The numerous studies that looked into the prospect of treating cancer cells with nanovanadium compounds found a novel alternative channel for cancer-fighting medicinal techniques.
3:00 PM
Reinforced Freeze-cast Ceramics Using Uniform Magnetic Fields: Josh Fernquist1; Ashkan Pourkand1; Jake Abbott1; Henry Fu1; Steven Naleway1; 1University of Utah
Manufacturing processes yielding stronger, yet light-weight structures are valuable in many industries and scientific application. Freeze casting is a fabrication process that offers a way to achieve these strong, light-weight structures, but only in a single direction (the direction of the templating ice growth). Applying a uniform magnetic field to these structures allows one to achieve increased strength in an additional direction. A Helmholtz coil along with a permanent magnet setup were used to apply weak, uniform fields in an oscillating mode (i.e., a stronger magnetic field in a single direction with a weaker oscillating field in an orthogonal direction) and a non-oscillating mode (i.e., magnetic field applied in a single direction). These oscillating magnetic fields led to more organized and stronger freeze-cast materials, compared to freeze cast materials with no oscillating magnetic field. These stronger, light weight structures could lead to better, higher performing manufactured materials.
3:20 PM Break
3:40 PM
Unraveling the Construction of Hexagonal Cells in the Apis mellifera Honeycomb Using Time-Resolved X-ray Microscopy (XRM): Rahul Franklin1; Brock Harpur1; Nikhilesh Chawla1; 1Purdue University
Honeycomb has fascinated humans for millennia. It is a naturally engineered structure that serves as storage for the bees, a place for the queen to lay eggs, rear their brood, among a multitude of additional functions. Even though honeycomb construction has been studied, results have been limited to two-dimensional and surface-level observations. X-ray microscopy is a very powerful tool to characterize structures in three-dimensions non-destructively. When a time element is added, one can obtain valuable data in four-dimensions (4D). In this study, through 4D X-ray microscopy, many fundamental questions related to how bees build hexagonal cells were answered. Hexagonal cells were seen to grow additively, directly based on a preformed hexagonal pattern formed on the central spine of the comb. Further, several seminal but previously unreported features were observed such as the formation of a corrugated spine of the comb and alternating porosity on it.
4:00 PM
Biodegradation of Petroleum-based Plastic Using Bacillus sp.: Rahulkumar Sunil Singh1; Eddie Gilcrease1; Ramesh Goel1; Michael L Free1; Prashant K Sarswat1; 1University of Utah
Over the last few decades, petroleum-based plastics have been used in an uncontrolled manner due to their attractive characteristics, posing severe environmental challenges that need to be immediately addressed. Literatures indicated some microorganisms for plastic degradation. Bacillus sp. was found capable of degrading various polymers such as polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), and polyurethane (PU). This study investigated the growth and morphological features of Bacillus sp. culture, and its ability to decompose untreated PP plastics using the mineral salt medium in an incubator shaker at 37°C with 120 rpm for 4 weeks. The bacterial growth was spectrophotometrically measured at OD595nm. pH and weight loss measurement provided the extent of plastic degradation. The significant increment in pH of the media towards alkalinity confirmed the degradation of the PP plastics. The preliminary results of 1 week and 4 weeks long incubation suggest that Bacillus sp. assisted plastic degradation might be a feasible approach for diminishing this environmental challenge.
4:20 PM
A Concise Review of the Antibacterial Action of Gold Nanoparticles Against Various Bacteria: Ikhazuagbe Ifijen1; Muniratu Maliki2; Nyaknno U. Udokpoh1; Ifeanyi J. Odiachi3; Best Atoe4; 1Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria; 2Edo State University, Uzairue; 3Delta State Polytechnic Ogwashi-Uku, Nigeria; 4Worldwide Healthcare, Nigeria
Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been proven to be a remarkable choice for utilization as an antibacterial agent. AuNP has been demonstrated to have a satisfactory performance against several types of pathogens, and analysis of its antibacterial action has also become a trending subject in contemporary times. In terms of the toxicity effects, results are sometimes ambiguous and contradictory due to the lack of a standardized experimental methodology; different research have utilized diverse techniques, delivery routes, and doses, and comparable tests may provide different results. This study describes the antibacterial action of gold nanoparticles against several types of bacteria in order to give a concise overview of and insight into the existing knowledge for researchers committed to this field. The potential of gold nanoparticles as an antibacterial agent and the toxicity of gold nanoparticles, both in vitro and in vivo, were both emphasized as important topics that need additional research.