Biomimetic Chitin–Silk Hybrids: An Optically Transparent Structural Platform for Wearable Devices and Advanced Electronics

Abstract

The cuticles of insects and marine crustaceans are fascinating models for man-made advanced functional composites. The excellent mechanical properties of these biological structures rest on the exquisite self-assembly of natural ingredients, such as biominerals, polysaccharides, and proteins. Among them, the two commonly found building blocks in the model biocomposites are chitin nanofibers and silk-like proteins with β-sheet structure. Despite being wholly organic, the chitinous protein complex plays a key role for the biocomposites by contributing to the overall mechanical robustness and structural integrity. Moreover, the chitinous protein complex alone without biominerals is optically transparent (e.g., dragonfly wings), thereby making it a brilliant model material system for engineering applications where optical transparency is essentially required. Here, inspired by the chitinous protein complex of arthropods cuticles, an optically transparent biomimetic composite that hybridizes chitin nanofibers and silk fibroin (β-sheet) is introduced, and its potential as a biocompatible structural platform for emerging wearable devices (e.g., smart contact lenses) and advanced displays (e.g., transparent plastic cover window) is demonstrated.

Marine-Derived Polymeric Materials and Biomimetics: An Overview

“…Overall, chitin and its derivatives represent promising matrices for the development of novel materials through biomimetical approaches [34,55] and notably in the recent field of "extreme biomimetics" for the development of nanoscale-structured composites [56][57][58]. In this field, chitin isolated from marine sponges is of high interest for the synthesis of bioinorganic composite materials made under high temperatures and pressures.…”

Motion Detection Using Tactile Sensors Based on Pressure-Sensitive Transistor Arrays

“…For example, pressure sensing and monitoring of biological systems, such as cardiac and vascular tissues, joints, cartilage, and spinal cord discs, have clinical importance that requires high-performing sensors in terms of sensitivity and accuracy, wide sensing range, enhanced spatial resolution, and low power consumption. To meet these requirements, many different types of pressure sensors, such as resistive, capacitive, and piezoelectric pressure sensors, have been developed in recent years using various nanomaterials with different structural configurations [132][133][134]. Despite these advancements, utilization of flexible devices is still limited to specialized applications that require specific sensing ranges, sensitivities, and spatial resolutions, and these devices are inadequate for generalized application in bio-systems.…”

Functional Protein-Based Bioinspired Nanomaterials: From Coupled Proteins, Synthetic Approaches, Nanostructures to Applications

“…The molecular-level dimensional conformity motivated the connection of chitin nanofibers and silk fibroin. The hybrid material demonstrated its utility as a functional/structural component for emerging applications in electronic and wearable devices, such as smart contact lenses [62].…”