Work

The Transition from Stiff to Compliant Materials in Squid Beaks

Year: 2008

Type: article

Abstract: The beak of the Humboldt squid Dosidicus gigas represents one of the hardest and stiffest wholly organic materials known. As it is deeply embedded within the soft buccal envelope, the manner in which impact forces are transmitted between beak and envelope is a matter of considerable scientific interest. Here, we show that the hydrated beak exhibits a large stiffness gradient, spanning two orders of magnitude from the tip to the base. This gradient is correlated with a chemical gradient involving mixtures of chitin, water, and His-rich proteins that contain 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-L-alanine (dopa) and undergo extensive stabilization by histidyl-dopa cross-link formation. These findings may serve as a foundation for identifying design principles for attaching mechanically mismatched materials in engineering and biological applications.

Source: Science

DOI: 10.1126/science.1154117

Authors: Ali Miserez, Todd Schneberk, Chengjun Sun, Frank W. Zok, J. Herbert Waite

Institution: University of California, Santa Barbara

Language: English

Topic: Calcium Carbonate Crystallization and Inhibition

Subfield: Biomaterials

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research

Awards: Biomimetic Blades: Mincing with Less Mineral, Mussel-Inspired Protective Coatings