Bio-Inspired Material Architectures for Deep Sea (BIMADS)
Abstract
Approved for Public Release Bio-Inspired Material Architectures for Deep Sea (BIMADS) program will provide understanding of the fundamental mechanisms underlying the biological adaptation of deep-sea animals to high pressures, pressure changes, and pressure differentials across material interfaces. Through rigorous high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) experiments on biological and biomimetic materials, performed in conjunction with chemo-mechanical modeling and simulations, we will interrelate molecular-scale bonding interactions and macroscopic mechanical behaviors of biological and expressly designed bio-inspired materials. Our underlying goal throughout the project is the discovery of fundamental principles that govern the pressure adaptations in soft materials in deep sea environments. Towards this goal, investigations will test mechanisms that have been proposed to protect deep sea snailfish of the genus Coryphaenoides in shallow-adapted cells, tissue, and fish exposed to HHP. These biological studies will guide synthesis of composite structures that leverage bio-hybrid material based auxetic skeleton structures with pressure-adaptive hydrogel filling and piezolytes. Designed prototypical specimens will be evaluated in high pressure chambers available in the Deep Submergence Laboratory of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. BIMADS capitalizes on the synergistic interactions among researchers with complementary backgrounds in marine biology, bioengineering, biomimetic materials, chemistry, mechanochemistry and multi-physics chemo-mechanical modeling, hydrogel synthesis, biohybrid material fabrication, as well as the design, mechanics, and dynamics of architected structures. To address key issues associated with this MURI, we have organized our work into four interconnected thrusts: (1) probing the molecular- and cellular-scale pressure adaptations in biological and biomimetic systems; (2) analyzing the responses of biological and engineered materials to internal and external forces; (3) determining structural properties that provide active resistance and compression; and (4) translating unique biological adaptations to HHP to engineer novel HHP-adaptive synthetic materials and structure designs. Comprehensive expertise available within the team will allow (1) identification of material adaptations at multiple scales from intracellular to whole organism; (2) understanding of the coupled responses to HHP on lipid membranes and cytoskeletal components via biomimetic protocells; (3) observation of deep-sea animals swimming performance and correlation with chemo-mechanical transduction in muscle-like actuation; and (4) discovery of bio-inspired synthetic structures that combine pressure-adaptive hydrogels and biohybrid material-based architected skeleton structures. BIMADS will reveal evolved principles that enable marine organisms to adapt and thrive in high pressure environments in the deepest ocean. In particular, we will discover, test, and translate biological mechanisms into effective pressure-adaptive synthetic materials and devices. By testing specific hypotheses, planned experiments will reveal new understanding of the hierarchical tolerance to HHP. Understanding of how cytoskeleton-membrane interactions couple into the HHP responses will provide additional insight into high-pressure adaptation. New knowledge on the mechanisms that native biopolymers use to adapt to HHP will inform the design of pressure-tolerant gel-based materials. Identification of factors that can extend HHP-tolerance to surface-dwelling species will provide opportunities for diagnosing and treating HHP-induced lesions or protecting humans from detrimental effects of HHP. Cumulatively, this program will pave the way for the Navy#s next-generation of bio-inspired materials for deep sea environments, significantly influencing the design of structures ranging from atmospheric dive suits to robotic fish.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Sep 11, 2023
- Source ID
- N000142312754
Entities
People
- Alper Erturk
Organizations
- Georgia Tech Research Corporation
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy