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Nanomaterials
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Photonic Properties of Nanostructured Biomaterials
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Photonic Properties of Nanostructured Biomaterials

A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Nanophotonics Materials and Devices".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2022) | Viewed by 8400

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Edoardo De Tommasi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Applied Sciences and Intelligent Systems—Unit of Naples, National Research Council, Pozzuoli, Italy
Interests: photonic properties of nanostructured biomaterials; optical sensing and biosensing; dielectric nanophotonics; structured illumination techniques
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Through billions of years of evolution, Nature has provided numerous organisms, including algae, flora, insects, and birds, with structures at the micro- and nano-scale able to manipulate and control light with high efficiency, mainly for intraspecies communication and interspecies interaction. Some of these periodic or quasi-periodic structures can cause coherent or incoherent scattering; others act as one-dimensional, spectrally selective multilayer reflectors, polarization-selective reflectors, two-dimensional diffraction gratings, and photonic crystals, or can be shaped in complex hierarchical architectures whose optical properties rely on a fine interplay between order and disorder. Organisms provided with photonic nanostructures as constituent part of their conformation represent a sort of living, near-zero-cost nanofactory able to produce, at a high rate and on a large scale, three-dimensional architectures whose complexity can be hardly reproduced even by the most advanced lithographic techniques. Nevertheless, natural photonic nanostructures can be not only directly exploited as devices, but can also inspire the design of novel technologies, which is at the basis of the concept of biomimetics.

The aim of this Special Issue is to provide the scientific community with a wide overview of the most recent studies on the photonic properties of nanostructured biomaterials, in the fields of fundamental and applied research. Papers on the applications of biomimetics in the fields of photonics, optics, optoelectronics, and optical sensing will also be hosted.

Dr. Edoardo De Tommasi
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nanomaterials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

  • Photonic structures in biology
  • Photonic nanostructures in biomaterials
  • Biomimetics in photonics and optics
  • Biomimetics in optical sensing
  • Periodic and ordered photonic nanostructures in nature
  • Disordered photonic nanostructures in nature
  • Numerical methods for the simulation of light propagation in biological nanostructures

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 23207 KiB  
Article
Enhanced Photoluminescence Detection of Immunocomplex Formation by Antibody-Functionalized, Ge-Doped Biosilica from the Diatom Cyclotella sp.
by Debra K. Gale and Gregory L. Rorrer
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(13), 1950; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13131950 - 27 Jun 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1427
Abstract
Diatoms are single-celled algae that biosynthesize cell walls of biogenic silica called “frustules” that are intricately patterned at the submicron- and nanoscale. In this study, we amplified the intrinsic luminescent properties of antibody-functionalized diatom biosilica frustules for enhanced, label-free, photoluminescence (PL) detection of [...] Read more.
Diatoms are single-celled algae that biosynthesize cell walls of biogenic silica called “frustules” that are intricately patterned at the submicron- and nanoscale. In this study, we amplified the intrinsic luminescent properties of antibody-functionalized diatom biosilica frustules for enhanced, label-free, photoluminescence (PL) detection of immunocomplex formation. It was hypothesized that metabolically doped GeO centers in antibody-functionalized diatom biosilica would enhance PL emission associated with nucleophilic immunocomplex formation. Germanium (Ge) was metabolically inserted into the frustule biosilica by two-stage cell cultivation of the centric diatom Cyclotella sp. The biosilica frustules were isolated by hydrogen peroxide treatment and thermally annealed to convert Ge oxides in the biosilica (0.4 wt% Ge) to luminescent GeO centers. The Ge-doped biosilica frustules were then functionalized with Rabbit Immunoglobulin G (IgG). Upon immunocomplex formation with its complimentary antigen goat anti-Rabbit IgG, the Ge-oxide doped, antibody-functionalized frustule biosilica increased the intensity of PL emission by a factor of 2.6 relative to immunocomplex formation by antibody-functionalized frustule biosilica without Ge. It is proposed that the luminescent GeO centers in the Ge-oxide doped frustule biosilica were more sensitive to radiative recombination than luminescent silanol groups in frustule biosilica without Ge, resulting in a higher PL emission upon immunocomplex formation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photonic Properties of Nanostructured Biomaterials)
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32 pages, 6261 KiB  
Article
Numerical Analysis of the Light Modulation by the Frustule of Gomphonema parvulum: The Role of Integrated Optical Components
by Mohamed Ghobara, Cathleen Oschatz, Peter Fratzl and Louisa Reissig
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(1), 113; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13010113 - 26 Dec 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3326
Abstract
Siliceous diatom frustules present a huge variety of shapes and nanometric pore patterns. A better understanding of the light modulation by these frustules is required to determine whether or not they might have photobiological roles besides their possible utilization as building blocks in [...] Read more.
Siliceous diatom frustules present a huge variety of shapes and nanometric pore patterns. A better understanding of the light modulation by these frustules is required to determine whether or not they might have photobiological roles besides their possible utilization as building blocks in photonic applications. In this study, we propose a novel approach for analyzing the near-field light modulation by small pennate diatom frustules, utilizing the frustule of Gomphonema parvulum as a model. Numerical analysis was carried out for the wave propagation across selected 2D cross-sections in a statistically representative 3D model for the valve based on the finite element frequency domain method. The influences of light wavelength (vacuum wavelengths from 300 to 800 nm) and refractive index changes, as well as structural parameters, on the light modulation were investigated and compared to theoretical predictions when possible. The results showed complex interference patterns resulting from the overlay of different optical phenomena, which can be explained by the presence of a few integrated optical components in the valve. Moreover, studies on the complete frustule in an aqueous medium allow the discussion of its possible photobiological relevance. Furthermore, our results may enable the simple screening of unstudied pennate frustules for photonic applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photonic Properties of Nanostructured Biomaterials)
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21 pages, 16492 KiB  
Article
Underwater Light Manipulation by the Benthic Diatom Ctenophora pulchella: From PAR Efficient Collection to UVR Screening
by Edoardo De Tommasi, Ilaria Rea, Maria Antonietta Ferrara, Luca De Stefano, Mario De Stefano, Adil Y. Al-Handal, Marija Stamenković and Angela Wulff
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(11), 2855; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11112855 - 26 Oct 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3897
Abstract
Several species of diatoms, unicellular microalgae which constitute the main component of phytoplankton, are characterized by an impressive photosynthetic efficiency while presenting a noticeable tolerance versus exposure to detrimental UV radiation (UVR). In particular, the growth rate of the araphid diatom Ctenophora pulchella [...] Read more.
Several species of diatoms, unicellular microalgae which constitute the main component of phytoplankton, are characterized by an impressive photosynthetic efficiency while presenting a noticeable tolerance versus exposure to detrimental UV radiation (UVR). In particular, the growth rate of the araphid diatom Ctenophora pulchella is not significantly affected by harsh treatments with UVR, even in absence of detectable, specific UV-absorbing pigments and even if it is not able to avoid high UV exposure by motility. In this work we applied a multi-disciplinary approach involving numerical computation, photonics, and biological parameters in order to investigate the possible role of the frustule, micro- and nano-patterned silica shell which encloses the cell, in the ability of C. pulchella to efficiently collect photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) and to simultaneously screen the protoplasm from UVR. The characterization of the photonic properties of the frustule has been accompanied by in vivo experiments conducted in water in order to investigate its function as optical coupler between light and plastids. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photonic Properties of Nanostructured Biomaterials)
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11 pages, 6264 KiB  
Article
Biomimetic Transparent Eye Protection Inspired by the Carapace of an Ostracod (Crustacea)
by Andrew R. Parker, Barbara P. Palka, Julie Albon, Keith M. Meek, Simon Holden and F. Tegwen Malik
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(3), 663; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11030663 - 8 Mar 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2534
Abstract
In this study we mimic the unique, transparent protective carapace (shell) of myodocopid ostracods, through which their compound eyes see, to demonstrate that the carapace ultrastructure also provides functions of strength and protection for a relatively thin structure. The bulk ultrastructure of the [...] Read more.
In this study we mimic the unique, transparent protective carapace (shell) of myodocopid ostracods, through which their compound eyes see, to demonstrate that the carapace ultrastructure also provides functions of strength and protection for a relatively thin structure. The bulk ultrastructure of the transparent window in the carapace of the relatively large, pelagic cypridinid (Myodocopida) Macrocypridina castanea was mimicked using the thin film deposition of dielectric materials to create a transparent, 15 bi-layer material. This biomimetic material was subjected to the natural forces withstood by the ostracod carapace in situ, including scratching by captured prey and strikes by water-borne particles. The biomimetic material was then tested in terms of its extrinsic (hardness value) and intrinsic (elastic modulus) response to indentation along with its scratch resistance. The performance of the biomimetic material was compared with that of a commonly used, anti-scratch resistant lens and polycarbonate that is typically used in the field of transparent armoury. The biomimetic material showed the best scratch resistant performance, and significantly greater hardness and elastic modulus values. The ability of biomimetic material to revert back to its original form (post loading), along with its scratch resistant qualities, offers potential for biomimetic eye protection coating that could enhance material currently in use. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photonic Properties of Nanostructured Biomaterials)
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