A comparative SEM study of the guard hair architecture in subterranean moles (Talpidae, Soricomorpha), golden moles (Chrysochloridae, Afrosoricidae), and silvery mole-rats (Bathyergidae, Rodentia)

Чернова, О. Ф.; Zherebtsova, O.V.

doi:10.1016/j.jcz.2022.09.005

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

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“…Combined AFM, XPS, and SICM surface charge mapping suggests that surface chemistry, charge, and topography combine to increase nucleation rates at these locations. With the marked variations in the structure of hair from different animals�which have evolved for purposes as varied as protection from solar UV, 82 cuts, and grazes, to facilitate perspiration and regulation of body temperature, and reduce friction 83 �hair provides an extensive natural resource of nucleants that exhibit a variety of surface topography and chemistry. Looking beyond hair, this work highlights the role of surface topography as well as surface chemistry in the activity of nucleants, which will ultimately enable us to select or possibly even design active nucleants for target compounds.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Universality of Hair as a Nucleant: Exploring the Effects of Surface Chemistry and Topography

Dunn,

Skaanvik,

McPherson

et al. 2023

Crystal Growth & Design

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The ability to control crystal nucleation through the simple addition of a nucleating agent (nucleant) is desirable for a huge range of applications. However, effective nucleating agents are known for only a small number of systems, and many questions remain about the mechanisms by which they operate. Here, we explore the features that make an effective nucleant and demonstrate that the biological material hairwhich naturally possesses a chemically and topographically complex surface structurehas excellent potential as an effective nucleating agent. Crystallization of poorly soluble compounds in the presence of hairs from a range of mammals shows that nucleation preferentially occurs at the cuticle step edges, while a novel microdroplet-based methodology was used to quantify the nucleating activities of different hairs. This showed that the activities of the hairs can be tuned over a wide range using chemical treatments. Analysis of the hair structure and composition using atomic force microscopy, scanning ion conductance microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy demonstrates that surface chemistry, surface topography, and surface charge all act in combination to create effective nucleation sites. This work therefore contributes to our understanding of heterogeneous nucleating agents and shows that surface topography as well as surface chemistry can be used in the design or selection of universal nucleating agents.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%