Bioinspired research project a first step toward intrinsically translucent tissue
Octopuses, squids and other sea creatures can perform a disappearing act by using specialized tissues in their bodies to manipulate the transmission and reflection of light, and now researchers at the University of California, Irvine have engineered human cells to have similar transparent abilities.
In a paper published today in Nature Communications, the scientists described how they drew inspiration from cephalopod skin to endow mammalian cells with tunable transparency and light-scattering characteristics.
“For millennia, people have been fascinated by transparency and invisibility, which have inspired philosophical speculation, works of science fiction, and much academic research,” said lead author Atrouli Chatterjee, a UCI doctoral student in chemical & biomolecular engineering. “Our project – which is decidedly in the realm of science – centers on designing and engineering cellular systems and tissues with controllable properties for transmitting, reflecting and absorbing light.”
Chatterjee works in the laboratory of Alon Gorodetsky, UCI associate professor of chemical & biomolecular engineering, who has a long history of exploring how cephalopods’ color-changing capabilities can be mimicked to develop unique technologies to benefit people. His team’s bioinspired research has led to breakthrough developments in infrared camouflage and other advanced materials.
For this study, the group drew inspiration from the way female Doryteuthis opalescens squids can evade predators by dynamically switching a stripe on their mantle from nearly transparent to opaque white. The researchers then borrowed some of the intercellular protein-based particles involved in this biological cloaking technique and found a way to introduce them into human cells to test whether the light-scattering powers are transferable to other animals.
This species of squid has specialized reflective cells called leucophores which can alter the how they scatter light. Within these cells are leucosomes, membrane-bound particles which are composed of proteins known as reflectins, which can produce iridescent camouflage.
In their experiments, the researchers cultured human embryonic kidney cells and genetically engineered them to express reflectin. They found that the protein would assemble into particles in the cells’ cytoplasm in a disordered arrangement. They also saw through optical microscopy and spectroscopy that the introduced reflectin-based structures caused the cells to change their scattering of light.
“We were amazed to find that the cells not only expressed reflectin but also packaged the protein in spheroidal nanostructures and distributed them throughout the cells’ bodies,” said Gorodetsky, a co-author on this study. “Through quantitative phase microscopy, we were able to determine that the protein structures had different optical characteristics when compared to the cytoplasm inside the cells; in other words, they optically behaved almost as they do in their native cephalopod leucophores.”
In another important part of the study, the team tested whether the reflectance could potentially be toggled on and off through external stimuli. They sandwiched cells in between coated glass plates and applied different concentrations of sodium chloride. Measuring the amount of light that was transmitted by the cells, they found that the ones exposed to higher sodium levels scattered more light and stood out more from the surroundings
“Our experiments showed that these effects appeared in the engineered cells but not in cells that lacked the reflectin particles, demonstrating a potential valuable method for tuning light-scattering properties in human cells,” Chatterjee said.
While invisible humans are still firmly in the realm of science fiction, Gorodetsky said his group’s research can offer some tangible benefits in the near term.
“This project showed that it’s possible to develop human cells with stimuli-responsive optical properties inspired by leucophores in celphalopods, and it shows that these amazing reflectin proteins can maintain their properties in foreign cellular environments,” he said.
He said the new knowledge also could open the possibility of using reflectins as a new type of biomolecular marker for medical and biological microscopy applications.
This project, which received support from Defense Applied Research Projects Agency and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, also involved researchers from the University of California, San Diego and Hamamatsu Photonics in Japan.
The Latest Updates from Bing News & Google News
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Translucent cells
- Employee steals $15,000 worth of phones from T-Mobile store, police say
Police are looking for a woman they say stole more than $15,000 worth of phones and more than $500 in cash from a mall store in Cumberland County. Lower Allen Township Police said they were notified ...
- Home remedies for acne: Use the health benefits of tea tree oil, green tea others for clear, glowing skin
From pesky pimples and stubborn blackheads to inflamed cysts and painful nodules, managing acne flare-ups is essential for skin health. Try these home remedies that offer a convenient and effective ...
- 3 to face charges in teen's fatal shooting
A Massachusetts teenager is dead after he was shot during a large house party in Northborough, according to authorities.
- Antitumor Immunity Boosted by Chitin-Derived Vaccine Adjuvant
C100 injections led to synergistic therapeutic effects with anti-PD1 immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy in a preclinical model.
- The Company Cell Phone Comeback: A Win-Win For Businesses & Employees
Amid scrutiny of addictive apps, hardware companies are crafting devices to safeguard (not steal) human attention. Smart businesses are quickly embracing the trend.
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Translucent cells
[google_news title=”” keyword=”translucent cells” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Iridescent camouflage
- Surprise reason for extraordinary find near backyard pool: 'Now that's different'
Green tree frogs are native to Australia and are rarely seen by the public, especially in such a 'gorgeous, sunny yellow' shade.
- EXCLUSIVE: Military Jackets and Ballgowns Inspired Dior's Capsule With Cult Brand Stone Island
Designer Kim Jones is a longtime fan of the cult Italian sportswear label founded by Massimo Osti, which is undergoing a rebrand under new leadership.
- Tesla Cybertruck Wraps: Available Colors, Pricing, And How to Get One
The Tesla Cybertruck is a striking vehicle in its standard form - but owners can now add their own personal touch to its appearance.
- Feeding hummingbirds means being responsible for their health
Since late March and early April, ruby-throated hummingbirds have been returning to the state as part of their annual spring migration from Mexico and Central America. These amazing birds are among ...
- ‘She Is Such an Athlete’: Astoria the Wild Turkey Is a Manhattan Celebrity
The wild turkey wandered into Midtown Manhattan this week, so far evading attempts to capture her. You may find her at Saks Fifth Avenue, at high-end Italian restaurants or roosting in nearby trees.
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Iridescent camouflage
[google_news title=”” keyword=”iridescent camouflage” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]