Active Contraction in the Stable Mechanical Environment of the Tunic of the Ascidian, <i>Halocynthia roretzi,</i> a Polysaccharide-Based Tissue with Blood Circulatory System
<i>Halocynthia roretzi</i>, a member of Ascidiacea, is covered with its own tunic, which is composed of polysaccharides, such as cellulose Iβ and sulfated chitin. <i>H. roretzi</i> has an open-vessel system, whose blood vessels and hemocytes are found in the tunic, so that th...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Polymers |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/21/4329 |
| _version_ | 1797631399222575104 |
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| author | Yoko Kato |
| author_facet | Yoko Kato |
| author_sort | Yoko Kato |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Halocynthia roretzi</i>, a member of Ascidiacea, is covered with its own tunic, which is composed of polysaccharides, such as cellulose Iβ and sulfated chitin. <i>H. roretzi</i> has an open-vessel system, whose blood vessels and hemocytes are found in the tunic, so that the mechanical environment of the tunic could be carefully controlled because of its influence on hemocyte behaviors. While active deformation of the tunic and related phenomena have been previously reported, the mechanical environment in the tunic, which directly influences its deformation, has been rarely investigated. Meanwhile, the developments of actuators based on cellulose and chitin have been frequently reported. However, a cellulose–sulfated chitin actuator has not been proposed. In this study, the mechanical environment of the tunic, which has been rarely investigated despite its importance in the active deformation of the tunic, was evaluated using finite element analysis. A finite element model of the tunic, based on its histological characteristics as well as deformation patterns, was developed. The results showed that the shape of the tunic, the pattern of fiber distribution, and control of the water content influenced the mechanical environment. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T11:22:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-45e6f77864954452a9a09bd847ddb186 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4360 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T11:22:11Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Polymers |
| spelling | doaj.art-45e6f77864954452a9a09bd847ddb1862023-11-10T15:10:56ZengMDPI AGPolymers2073-43602023-11-011521432910.3390/polym15214329Active Contraction in the Stable Mechanical Environment of the Tunic of the Ascidian, <i>Halocynthia roretzi,</i> a Polysaccharide-Based Tissue with Blood Circulatory SystemYoko Kato0Faculty of Engineering, Tohoku Gakuin University, Sendai 984-8588, Japan<i>Halocynthia roretzi</i>, a member of Ascidiacea, is covered with its own tunic, which is composed of polysaccharides, such as cellulose Iβ and sulfated chitin. <i>H. roretzi</i> has an open-vessel system, whose blood vessels and hemocytes are found in the tunic, so that the mechanical environment of the tunic could be carefully controlled because of its influence on hemocyte behaviors. While active deformation of the tunic and related phenomena have been previously reported, the mechanical environment in the tunic, which directly influences its deformation, has been rarely investigated. Meanwhile, the developments of actuators based on cellulose and chitin have been frequently reported. However, a cellulose–sulfated chitin actuator has not been proposed. In this study, the mechanical environment of the tunic, which has been rarely investigated despite its importance in the active deformation of the tunic, was evaluated using finite element analysis. A finite element model of the tunic, based on its histological characteristics as well as deformation patterns, was developed. The results showed that the shape of the tunic, the pattern of fiber distribution, and control of the water content influenced the mechanical environment.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/21/4329cellulosesulfated chitin<i>Halocynthia roretzi</i>tunicactive deformationmechanical environment |
| spellingShingle | Yoko Kato Active Contraction in the Stable Mechanical Environment of the Tunic of the Ascidian, <i>Halocynthia roretzi,</i> a Polysaccharide-Based Tissue with Blood Circulatory System Polymers cellulose sulfated chitin <i>Halocynthia roretzi</i> tunic active deformation mechanical environment |
| title | Active Contraction in the Stable Mechanical Environment of the Tunic of the Ascidian, <i>Halocynthia roretzi,</i> a Polysaccharide-Based Tissue with Blood Circulatory System |
| title_full | Active Contraction in the Stable Mechanical Environment of the Tunic of the Ascidian, <i>Halocynthia roretzi,</i> a Polysaccharide-Based Tissue with Blood Circulatory System |
| title_fullStr | Active Contraction in the Stable Mechanical Environment of the Tunic of the Ascidian, <i>Halocynthia roretzi,</i> a Polysaccharide-Based Tissue with Blood Circulatory System |
| title_full_unstemmed | Active Contraction in the Stable Mechanical Environment of the Tunic of the Ascidian, <i>Halocynthia roretzi,</i> a Polysaccharide-Based Tissue with Blood Circulatory System |
| title_short | Active Contraction in the Stable Mechanical Environment of the Tunic of the Ascidian, <i>Halocynthia roretzi,</i> a Polysaccharide-Based Tissue with Blood Circulatory System |
| title_sort | active contraction in the stable mechanical environment of the tunic of the ascidian i halocynthia roretzi i a polysaccharide based tissue with blood circulatory system |
| topic | cellulose sulfated chitin <i>Halocynthia roretzi</i> tunic active deformation mechanical environment |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/21/4329 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT yokokato activecontractioninthestablemechanicalenvironmentofthetunicoftheascidianihalocynthiaroretziiapolysaccharidebasedtissuewithbloodcirculatorysystem |