Biomimetics (Jun 2023)

Honeycomb Biosilica in Sponges: From Understanding Principles of Unique Hierarchical Organization to Assessing Biomimetic Potential

  • Alona Voronkina,
  • Eliza Romanczuk-Ruszuk,
  • Robert E. Przekop,
  • Pawel Lipowicz,
  • Ewa Gabriel,
  • Korbinian Heimler,
  • Anika Rogoll,
  • Carla Vogt,
  • Milosz Frydrych,
  • Pawel Wienclaw,
  • Allison L. Stelling,
  • Konstantin Tabachnick,
  • Dmitry Tsurkan,
  • Hermann Ehrlich

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics8020234
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8, no. 2
p. 234

Abstract

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Structural bioinspiration in modern material science and biomimetics represents an actual trend that was originally based on the bioarchitectural diversity of invertebrate skeletons, specifically, honeycomb constructs of natural origin, which have been in humanities focus since ancient times. We conducted a study on the principles of bioarchitecture regarding the unique biosilica-based honeycomb-like skeleton of the deep-sea glass sponge Aphrocallistes beatrix. Experimental data show, with compelling evidence, the location of actin filaments within honeycomb-formed hierarchical siliceous walls. Principles of the unique hierarchical organization of such formations are discussed. Inspired by poriferan honeycomb biosilica, we designed diverse models, including 3D printing, using PLA-, resin-, and synthetic-glass-prepared corresponding microtomography-based 3D reconstruction.

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