Natural nanofibers embedded in the seed mucilage envelope: composite hydrogels with specific adhesive and frictional properties.

The increasing interests in natural, biodegradable, non-toxic materials that can find application in diverse industry branches, for example, food, pharmacy, medicine, or materials engineering, has steered the attention of many scientists to plants, which are a known source of natural hydrogels. Natural hydrogels share some features with synthetic hydrogels, but are more easy to obtain and recycle. One of the main sources of such hydrogels are mucilaginous seeds and fruits, which produce after hydration a gel-like, transparent capsule, the so-called mucilage envelope.

Ultrablack color in velvet ant cuticle.

We studied the ultrastructure of the ultrablack cuticle in , an enigmatic and visually striking species of velvet ants (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae). Using a combination of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), and optical spectroscopy, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of the cuticle to elucidate its unique optical properties. SEM imaging provided a detailed surface morphology, while TEM provided insights into the internal structure.

Adhesion of the mucilage envelope of seeds probed by sum frequency generation spectroscopy.

The attachment of seeds to natural surfaces is important for the reproductive success of plants. This study investigates the adhesion mechanisms of seed mucilage to CaF and polystyrene surfaces, using sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy and pull-off force measurements. The results show that the adhesion is driven by the formation of crystalline cellulose at the interface.

Comparative Morphology of the Extrinsic and Intrinsic Leg Musculature in Dictyoptera (Insecta: Blattodea, Mantodea).

Insect legs, as primarily locomotory devices, can show a tremendous variety of morphological modifications providing a multitude of usages. The prehensile raptorial forelegs of praying mantises (Mantodea) are a prominent example of true multifunctionality since they are used for walking while being efficient prey-capturing and grasping devices. Although being mostly generalist arthropod predators, various morphological adaptations due to different environmental conditions occur across Mantodea.

Pectin Mucilage Adhesion on a Flat Substrate: A Molecular Simulation Approach to Plant-Seed Adhesion.

We investigate the adhesion of pectin-mucilage-coated seeds to substrate surfaces, focusing on the effect of water content. It is known that the adhesion of pectin mucilage increases with water loss, eventually dropping to zero beyond a certain point. To explore this phenomenon, we develop and parametrize a coarse-grained many-body dissipative-particle dynamics (MDPD) model.