2023-10-23 カリフォルニア大学サンディエゴ校(UCSD)
◆ディノフラジェレートが圧力を受けると、これらの材料は光を放射し、その光の強度は加えられる力に応じて変化します。この材料は機械センサー、ソフトロボティクス、医療デバイスなど、さまざまな応用分野で使用される可能性があり、さらなる研究が進行中です。
<関連情報>
- https://today.ucsd.edu/story/soft-living-materials-made-with-algae-glow-under-stress
- https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adi8643
超高感度かつ堅牢な機械発光生体材料 Ultrasensitive and robust mechanoluminescent living composites
Chenghai Li ,Nico Schramma ,Zijun Wang ,Nada F. Qari ,Maziyar Jalaal,Michael I. Latz ,and Shengqiang Cai
Science Advances Published:20 Oct 2023
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adi8643
Abstract
Mechanosensing, the transduction of extracellular mechanical stimuli into intracellular biochemical signals, is a fundamental property of living cells. However, endowing synthetic materials with mechanosensing capabilities comparable to biological levels is challenging. Here, we developed ultrasensitive and robust mechanoluminescent living composites using hydrogels embedded with dinoflagellates, unicellular microalgae with a near-instantaneous and ultrasensitive bioluminescent response to mechanical stress. Not only did embedded dinoflagellates retain their intrinsic mechanoluminescence, but with hydrophobic coatings, living composites had a lifetime of ~5 months under harsh conditions with minimal maintenance. We 3D-printed living composites into large-scale mechanoluminescent structures with high spatial resolution, and we also enhanced their mechanical properties with double-network hydrogels. We propose a counterpart mathematical model that captured experimental mechanoluminescent observations to predict mechanoluminescence based on deformation and applied stress. We also demonstrated the use of the mechanosensing composites for biomimetic soft actuators that emitted colored light upon magnetic actuation. These mechanosensing composites have substantial potential in biohybrid sensors and robotics.
