Structure and mechanical properties of selected protective systems in marine organisms

Steven E Naleway; Jennifer R A Taylor; Michael M Porter; Marc A Meyers; Joanna McKittrick

doi:10.1016/j.msec.2015.10.033

Structure and mechanical properties of selected protective systems in marine organisms

Mater Sci Eng C Mater Biol Appl. 2016 Feb:59:1143-1167. doi: 10.1016/j.msec.2015.10.033. Epub 2015 Oct 23.

Authors

Steven E Naleway¹, Jennifer R A Taylor², Michael M Porter³, Marc A Meyers⁴, Joanna McKittrick⁵

Affiliations

¹ Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA. Electronic address: snaleway@eng.ucsd.edu.
² Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA. Electronic address: j3taylor@ucsd.edu.
³ Department of Mechanical Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA. Electronic address: mmporte@clemson.edu.
⁴ Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Department of NanoEngineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA. Electronic address: mameyers@eng.ucsd.edu.
⁵ Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA. Electronic address: jmckittrick@eng.ucsd.edu.

PMID: 26652472
DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2015.10.033

Abstract

Marine organisms have developed a wide variety of protective strategies to thrive in their native environments. These biological materials, although formed from simple biopolymer and biomineral constituents, take on many intricate and effective designs. The specific environmental conditions that shape all marine organisms have helped modify these materials into their current forms: complete hydration, and variation in hydrostatic pressure, temperature, salinity, as well as motion from currents and swells. These conditions vary throughout the ocean, being more consistent in the pelagic and deep benthic zones while experiencing more variability in the nearshore and shallows (e.g. intertidal zones, shallow bays and lagoons, salt marshes and mangrove forests). Of note, many marine organisms are capable of migrating between these zones. In this review, the basic building blocks of these structural biological materials and a variety of protective strategies in marine organisms are discussed with a focus on their structure and mechanical properties. Finally, the bioinspired potential of these biological materials is discussed.

Keywords: Bioinspired design; Marine organisms; Protective mechanisms; Structural biological materials.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Animal Shells* / anatomy & histology
Animal Shells* / physiology
Animals
Aquatic Organisms / physiology*
Biopolymers*
Body Patterning / physiology
Minerals*

Substances

Biopolymers
Minerals