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End date: 2019 × Start date: 2011 × Type: Text × Publisher: Saarbrücken : Leibniz-Institut für Neue Materialien ×

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Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    Bioinspired pressure actuated adhesive system
    (Saarbrücken : Leibniz-Institut für Neue Materialien, 2011) Paretkar, Dadhichi R.; Kamperman, Marleen; Schneider, Andreas S.; Arzt, Eduard
    We developed a dry snythetic adhesive system inspired by gecko feet that can switch reversibly from adhesion to non-adhesion with applied pressure as external stimulus. Micropatterned polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) surfaces with pillars of 30 µm length and 10 µm diameter were fabricated using photolithography and moulding. Adhesion properties were determined with a flat probe as a function of preload. For low and moderate applied compressive preloads, measured adhesion was 7.5 times higher on the patterned surfaces than on flat controls whereas for high preloads adhesion dropped to very low values. In situ imaging showed that the increased preload caused the pillars to deform by bending and/or buckling and to lose their adhesive contact. The elasticity of PDMS aids the pillar recovery to the upright position upon removal of preload enabling repeatability of the switch. Such systems have promising properties e.g. for industrial pick-and-carry operations.
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    Biological materials - bioinspiration on different length scales
    (Saarbrücken : Leibniz-Institut für Neue Materialien, 2011) Weiss, Ingrid
    This article investigates nacre and peacock feather rachis from a molecular and structural point of view, in addition to unifying principles in nature that may control hierarchical functions. This biological material serves as an example for deciphering basic principles in nature that may subsequently be used to design new artificial materials and structures.
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    The intracellular localization of inorganic engineered versus biogenic materials: a comparison
    (Saarbrücken : Leibniz-Institut für Neue Materialien, 2011) Kucki, Melanie; Kraegeloh, Annette
    The uptake of engineered nanoobjects into cells is assumed to significantly account for their potential toxicity. By internalisation, nanoparticles are at least temporarily trapped in the confined volume of a single cell and come into close contact with cellular components, like organelles, structural proteins, enzymes or signalling molecules. As cells are highly structured entities, exhibiting various types of chemically and biologically distinct compartments, first of all the uptake mechanism determines which types of molecules are encountered. In this review, an introduction into the compartmentalisation of cells as well as some uptake processes is given. The localisation of engineered materials within cells of human and animal origin is exemplified. On the other hand, many living organisms are known for their ability to intracellularly precipitate inorganic structures. Some of these biogenic materials are chemically and structurally similar to artificially generated nanostructures. Therefore, the localisation of some biogenic structures within cells is also illustrated. Finally, the relevance of the specific cellular localisation for toxicity is discussed.
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    "Gecko-Workshop 2010" - INM initiates new worldwide conference series
    (Saarbrücken : Leibniz-Institut für Neue Materialien, 2011) Kamperman, Marleen; Arzt, Eduard
    In July 2010, scientists from all over the world gathered at INM to discuss gecko inspired adhesion at a workshop entitled "Bioinspired adhesion: from geckos to new products". The talks covered a range of current issues, including natural attachment systems, developments in artificial gecko-mimics, advances in mechanical models and possible products. This was the first dedicated workshop on this topic. The attendees unanimously agreed to create an international workshop series based on the INM example.