Effect of sample treatment on the elastic modulus of locust cuticle obtained by nanoindentation
Cuticle is one of the most abundant, but least studied, biological composites. As a result, it has contributed very little to the field of biomimetics. An important step to overcome this problem is to study cuticle biomechanics by means of accurate mechanical measurements. However, due to many reaso...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Beilstein-Institut
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3762/bjnano.13.33 |
| _version_ | 1818539764618362880 |
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| author | Chuchu Li Stanislav N. Gorb Hamed Rajabi |
| author_facet | Chuchu Li Stanislav N. Gorb Hamed Rajabi |
| author_sort | Chuchu Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cuticle is one of the most abundant, but least studied, biological composites. As a result, it has contributed very little to the field of biomimetics. An important step to overcome this problem is to study cuticle biomechanics by means of accurate mechanical measurements. However, due to many reasons, mechanical testing on fresh cuticle specimens is not always possible. Hence, researchers often use stored specimens to measure properties of arthropod cuticle. Our knowledge about the influence of different treatment methods on cuticle properties is currently very limited. In this study, we investigated the effect of freezing, desiccation, and rehydration on the elastic modulus of the hind tibial cuticle of locusts obtained by nanoindentation. We found that all the mentioned treatments significantly influence cuticle properties. This is in contrast to previous reports suggesting that freezing did not significantly influence the elastic modulus of native cuticle specimens tested in bending. In the light of our data, we suggest that changes of the elastic modulus of cuticle are not solely due to changes of the water content. Our results provide a platform for more accurate measurements of cuticle properties. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T21:46:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b2528710e8ba4adda969a1aed18c1994 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2190-4286 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T21:46:25Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | Beilstein-Institut |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology |
| spelling | doaj.art-b2528710e8ba4adda969a1aed18c19942022-12-22T00:49:36ZengBeilstein-InstitutBeilstein Journal of Nanotechnology2190-42862022-04-0113140441010.3762/bjnano.13.332190-4286-13-33Effect of sample treatment on the elastic modulus of locust cuticle obtained by nanoindentationChuchu Li0Stanislav N. Gorb1Hamed Rajabi2Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Institute of Zoology, Kiel University, Kiel, GermanyFunctional Morphology and Biomechanics, Institute of Zoology, Kiel University, Kiel, GermanyDivision of Mechanical Engineering and Design, School of Engineering, London South Bank University, London, UKCuticle is one of the most abundant, but least studied, biological composites. As a result, it has contributed very little to the field of biomimetics. An important step to overcome this problem is to study cuticle biomechanics by means of accurate mechanical measurements. However, due to many reasons, mechanical testing on fresh cuticle specimens is not always possible. Hence, researchers often use stored specimens to measure properties of arthropod cuticle. Our knowledge about the influence of different treatment methods on cuticle properties is currently very limited. In this study, we investigated the effect of freezing, desiccation, and rehydration on the elastic modulus of the hind tibial cuticle of locusts obtained by nanoindentation. We found that all the mentioned treatments significantly influence cuticle properties. This is in contrast to previous reports suggesting that freezing did not significantly influence the elastic modulus of native cuticle specimens tested in bending. In the light of our data, we suggest that changes of the elastic modulus of cuticle are not solely due to changes of the water content. Our results provide a platform for more accurate measurements of cuticle properties.https://doi.org/10.3762/bjnano.13.33biomimeticscuticlelocustmaterial propertiesmechanical testingnanoindentationwater content |
| spellingShingle | Chuchu Li Stanislav N. Gorb Hamed Rajabi Effect of sample treatment on the elastic modulus of locust cuticle obtained by nanoindentation Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology biomimetics cuticle locust material properties mechanical testing nanoindentation water content |
| title | Effect of sample treatment on the elastic modulus of locust cuticle obtained by nanoindentation |
| title_full | Effect of sample treatment on the elastic modulus of locust cuticle obtained by nanoindentation |
| title_fullStr | Effect of sample treatment on the elastic modulus of locust cuticle obtained by nanoindentation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of sample treatment on the elastic modulus of locust cuticle obtained by nanoindentation |
| title_short | Effect of sample treatment on the elastic modulus of locust cuticle obtained by nanoindentation |
| title_sort | effect of sample treatment on the elastic modulus of locust cuticle obtained by nanoindentation |
| topic | biomimetics cuticle locust material properties mechanical testing nanoindentation water content |
| url | https://doi.org/10.3762/bjnano.13.33 |
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