9.1 Materials by Design: Molecular Contributions to Coloration in Cephalopod Chromatophores for Bio-inspired Photonic Systems
Abstract
The objective of this research is to better understand the molecular structure contributions to visible coloration in cephalopods. The structural-functional relationship of the chromatophore pigment granules will be investigated and then results will be used to develop synthetic high-refractive index (HRI) granules that could be utilized in biophotonic systems to afford thinner form factors. The objective of this research is to better understand the structural contributions to visible coloration in cephalopods chromatophore pigment granules and to apply this understanding to develop synthetic granules that could be utilized in biophotonic systems to afford enhanced adaptive coloration capabilities. The working hypothesis is that chromatophore pigment granules behave as light harvesting complexes composed of a pigment core localized within a HRI protein shell optimized to enhance the extraction and absorbance of light, which contributes constructively to the rapid changes of skin patterning and coloration within the cephalopod dermal tissue. The research will seek to identify the molecular composition of chromatophore pigment granules using systematic extraction and bio-analytical separation techniques including size exclusion chromatography, column chromatography, and mass spectrometry. The absorption and scattering of light within the isolated granules will be investigated using UV-visible spectrophotometry, cavity ring-down spectroscopy, refractive index retrieval techniques, and diffuse scattering measurements. Finally, the research will attempt to develop ensembles of biomimetic HRI nanoparticles that duplicate the structural and optical features of native chromatophore pigment granules using synthetic techniques derived from the formation of biogenic silica in diatoms.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 12, 2017
- Source ID
- W911NF1610455
Entities
People
- Leila F Deravi
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Northeastern University
- United States Army