Applicability of a Green Nanocomposite Consisted of Spongin Decorated CuWO(OH) and AgNPs as a High-Performance Aptasensing Platform in Detection.

This study reports the synthesis of a nanocomposite consisting of spongin and its applicability in the development of an aptasensing platform with high performance. The spongin was carefully extracted from a marine sponge and decorated with copper tungsten oxide hydroxide. The resulting spongin-copper tungsten oxide hydroxide was functionalized by silver nanoparticles and utilized in electrochemical aptasensor fabrication.

Electrolysis as a Universal Approach for Isolation of Diverse Chitin Scaffolds from Selected Marine Demosponges.

Three-dimensional chitinous scaffolds often used in regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, biomimetics and technology are mostly isolated from marine organisms, such as marine sponges (Porifera). In this work, we report the results of the electrochemical isolation of the ready to use chitinous matrices from three species of verongiid demosponges (, and ) as a perfect example of possible morphological and chemical dimorphism in the case of the marine chitin sources. The electrolysis of concentrated NaSO aqueous solution showed its superiority over the chemical chitin isolation method in terms of the treatment time reduction: only 5.

Arrested in Glass: Actin within Sophisticated Architectures of Biosilica in Sponges.

Actin is a fundamental member of an ancient superfamily of structural intracellular proteins and plays a crucial role in cytoskeleton dynamics, ciliogenesis, phagocytosis, and force generation in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. It is shown that actin has another function in metazoans: patterning biosilica deposition, a role that has spanned over 500 million years. Species of glass sponges (Hexactinellida) and demosponges (Demospongiae), representatives of the first metazoans, with a broad diversity of skeletal structures with hierarchical architecture unchanged since the late Precambrian, are studied.

Calcite Nanotuned Chitinous Skeletons of Giant Marine Demosponge.

Marine sponges were among the first multicellular organisms on our planet and have survived to this day thanks to their unique mechanisms of chemical defense and the specific design of their skeletons, which have been optimized over millions of years of evolution to effectively inhabit the aquatic environment. In this work, we carried out studies to elucidate the nature and nanostructural organization of three-dimensional skeletal microfibers of the giant marine demosponge , the body of which is a micro-reticular, durable structure that determines the ideal filtration function of this organism. For the first time, using the battery of analytical tools including three-dimensional micro-X-ray Fluorescence (3D-µXRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), infra-red (FTIR), Raman and Near Edge X-ray Fine Structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy, we have shown that biomineral calcite is responsible for nano-tuning the skeletal fibers of this sponge species.

Potential Biomedical Applications of Collagen Filaments derived from the Marine Demosponges (Schmidt, 1864) and (Schmidt, 1862).

Collagen filaments derived from the two marine demosponges and were for the first time isolated, biochemically characterised and tested for their potential use in regenerative medicine. SDS-PAGE of isolated filaments revealed a main collagen subunit band of 130 kDa in both of the samples under study. DSC analysis on 2D membranes produced with collagenous sponge filaments showed higher thermal stability than commercial mammalian-derived collagen membranes.

Adsorption of Cationic Dyes on a Magnetic 3D Spongin Scaffold with Nano-Sized FeO Cores.

The renewable, proteinaceous, marine biopolymer spongin is yet the focus of modern research. The preparation of a magnetic three-dimensional (3D) spongin scaffold with nano-sized FeO cores is reported here for the first time. The formation of this magnetic spongin-FeO composite was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential thermal analysis (DTA) (TGA-DTA), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and zeta potential analyses.

Extreme Biomimetics: Designing of the First Nanostructured 3D Spongin-Atacamite Composite and its Application.

The design of new composite materials using extreme biomimetics is of crucial importance for bioinspired materials science. Further progress in research and application of these new materials is impossible without understanding the mechanisms of formation, as well as structural features at the molecular and nano-level. It presents a challenge to obtain a holistic understanding of the mechanisms underlying the interaction of organic and inorganic phases under conditions of harsh chemical reactions for biopolymers.

Marine biomimetics: bromotyrosines loaded chitinous skeleton as source of antibacterial agents.

Unlabelled: The marine sponges of the order Verongiida (Demospongiae: Porifera) have survived on our planet for more than 500 million years due to the presence of a unique strategy of chemical protection by biosynthesis of more than 300 derivatives of biologically active bromotyrosines as secondary metabolites. These compounds are synthesized within spherulocytes, highly specialized cells located within chitinous skeletal fibers of these sponges from where they can be extruded in the sea water and form protective space against pathogenic viruses, bacteria and other predators. This chitin is an example of unique biomaterial as source of substances with antibiotic properties.

Progress in Modern Marine Biomaterials Research.

The growing demand for new, sophisticated, multifunctional materials has brought natural structural composites into focus, since they underwent a substantial optimization during long evolutionary selection pressure and adaptation processes. Marine biological materials are the most important sources of both inspiration for biomimetics and of raw materials for practical applications in technology and biomedicine. The use of marine natural products as multifunctional biomaterials is currently undergoing a renaissance in the modern materials science.

Progress in chitin analytics.

Chitin is the second most abundant biopolymer and functions as the main structural component in a variety of living organisms. In nature, chitin rarely occurs in a pure form, but rather as nanoorganized chitin-proteins, chitin-pigments, or chitin-mineral composite biomaterials. Although chitin has a long history of scientific studies, it is still extensively investigated for practical applications in medicine, biotechnology, and biomimetics.

Functionalization of 3D Chitinous Skeletal Scaffolds of Sponge Origin Using Silver Nanoparticles and Their Antibacterial Properties.

Chitin, as one of nature's most abundant structural polysaccharides, possesses worldwide, high industrial potential and a functionality that is topically pertinent. Nowadays, the metallization of naturally predesigned, 3D chitinous scaffolds originating from marine sponges is drawing focused attention. These invertebrates represent a unique, renewable source of specialized chitin due to their ability to grow under marine farming conditions.

Electrochemical Approach for Isolation of Chitin from the Skeleton of the Black Coral sp. (Antipatharia).

The development of novel and effective methods for the isolation of chitin, which remains one of the fundamental aminopolysaccharides within skeletal structures of diverse marine invertebrates, is still relevant. In contrast to numerous studies on chitin extraction from crustaceans, mollusks and sponges, there are only a few reports concerning its isolation from corals, and especially black corals (Antipatharia). In this work, we report the stepwise isolation and identification of chitin from sp.

Marine biomaterials: Biomimetic and pharmacological potential of cultivated Aplysina aerophoba marine demosponge.

Marine demosponges of the Verongiida order are considered a gold-mine for bioinspired materials science and marine pharmacology. The aim of this work was to simultaneously isolate selected bromotyrosines and unique chitinous structures from A. aerophoba and to propose these molecules and biomaterials for possible application as antibacterial and antitumor compounds and as ready-to-use scaffolds for cultivation of cardiomyocytes, respectively.

Naturally pre-designed biomaterials: Spider molting cuticle as a functional crude oil sorbent.

Diverse fields of modern environmental technology are nowadays focused on the discovery and development of new sources for oil spill removal. An especially interesting type of sorbents is those of natural origin-biosorbents-as ready-to-use constructs with biodegradable, nontoxic, renewable and cost-efficient properties. Moreover, the growing problem of microplastic-related contamination in the oceans further encourages the use of biosorbents.

3D Chitin Scaffolds of Marine Demosponge Origin for Biomimetic Mollusk Hemolymph-Associated Biomineralization .

Structure-based tissue engineering requires large-scale 3D cell/tissue manufacture technologies, to produce biologically active scaffolds. Special attention is currently paid to naturally pre-designed scaffolds found in skeletons of marine sponges, which represent a renewable resource of biomaterials. Here, an innovative approach to the production of mineralized scaffolds of natural origin is proposed.

Naturally Drug-Loaded Chitin: Isolation and Applications.

Naturally occurring three-dimensional (3D) biopolymer-based matrices that can be used in different biomedical applications are sustainable alternatives to various artificial 3D materials. For this purpose, chitin-based structures from marine sponges are very promising substitutes. Marine sponges from the order Verongiida (class Demospongiae) are typical examples of demosponges with well-developed chitinous skeletons.

Spider Chitin: An Ultrafast Microwave-Assisted Method for Chitin Isolation from Spider Molt Cuticle.

Chitin, as a fundamental polysaccharide in invertebrate skeletons, continues to be actively investigated, especially with respect to new sources and the development of effective methods for its extraction. Recent attention has been focused on marine crustaceans and sponges; however, the potential of spiders (order Araneae) as an alternative source of tubular chitin has been overlooked. In this work, we focused our attention on chitin from up to 12 cm-large Theraphosidae spiders, popularly known as tarantulas or bird-eating spiders.

Extreme biomimetics: Preservation of molecular detail in centimeter-scale samples of biological meshes laid down by sponges.

Fabrication of biomimetic materials and scaffolds is usually a micro- or even nanoscale process; however, most testing and all manufacturing require larger-scale synthesis of nanoscale features. Here, we propose the utilization of naturally prefabricated three-dimensional (3D) spongin scaffolds that preserve molecular detail across centimeter-scale samples. The fine-scale structure of this collagenous resource is stable at temperatures of up to 1200°C and can produce up to 4 × 10-cm-large 3D microfibrous and nanoporous turbostratic graphite.

Naturally Prefabricated Marine Biomaterials: Isolation and Applications of Flat Chitinous 3D Scaffolds from (Demospongiae: Verongiida).

Marine sponges remain representative of a unique source of renewable biological materials. The demosponges of the family Ianthellidae possess chitin-based skeletons with high biomimetic potential. These three-dimensional (3D) constructs can potentially be used in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Spider Chitin. The biomimetic potential and applications of Caribena versicolor tubular chitin.

Diverse fields of modern technology and biomedicine can benefit from the application of ready-to-use chitin-based scaffolds. In this work we show for the first time the applicability of tubular and porous chitin from Caribena versicolor spiders as a scaffold for the development of an effective CuO/Cu(OH) catalyst for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) to 4-aminophenol (4-AM), and as a scaffold for the tissue engineering of selected cells. The formation of CuO/Cu(OH) phases on and within the chitinous tubes leads to a hybrid material with excellent catalytic performance with respect to the reduction of p-nitrophenol.

Express Method for Isolation of Ready-to-Use 3D Chitin Scaffolds from (Aplysineidae: Verongiida) Demosponge.

Sponges are a valuable source of natural compounds and biomaterials for many biotechnological applications. Marine sponges belonging to the order Verongiida are known to contain both chitin and biologically active bromotyrosines. (Aplysineidae: Verongiida) is well known to contain bromotyrosines with relevant bioactivity against human and animal diseases.

New Source of 3D Chitin Scaffolds: The Red Sea Demosponge (Pseudoceratinidae, Verongiida).

The bioactive bromotyrosine-derived alkaloids and unique morphologically-defined fibrous skeleton of chitin origin have been found recently in marine demosponges of the order Verongiida. The sophisticated three-dimensional (3D) structure of skeletal chitinous scaffolds supported their use in biomedicine, tissue engineering as well as in diverse modern technologies. The goal of this study was the screening of new species of the order Verongiida to find another renewable source of naturally prefabricated 3D chitinous scaffolds.

Discovery of chitin in skeletons of non-verongiid Red Sea demosponges.

Marine demosponges (Porifera: Demospongiae) are recognized as first metazoans which have developed over millions of years of evolution effective survival strategies based on unique metabolic pathways to produce both biologically active secondary metabolites and biopolymer-based stiff skeletons with 3D architecture. Up to date, among marine demosponges, only representatives of the Verongiida order have been known to synthetize biologically active substances as well as skeletons made of structural polysaccharide chitin. This work, to our knowledge, demonstrates for the first time that chitin is an important structural component within skeletons of non-verongiid demosponges Acarnus wolffgangi and Echinoclathria gibbosa collected in the Red Sea.

Marine Spongin: Naturally Prefabricated 3D Scaffold-Based Biomaterial.

The biosynthesis, chemistry, structural features and functionality of spongin as a halogenated scleroprotein of keratosan demosponges are still paradigms. This review has the principal goal of providing thorough and comprehensive coverage of spongin as a naturally prefabricated 3D biomaterial with multifaceted applications. The history of spongin's discovery and use in the form of commercial sponges, including their marine farming strategies, have been analyzed and are discussed here.