Hymenoptera and biomimetic surfaces: insights and innovations

• Vinicius Marques Lopez,
• Carlo Polidori and
• Rhainer Guillermo Ferreira

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1333–1352, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.107

• essential functions, insect wings must effectively transmit force from the muscles at their base to the surrounding air, generate lift, and uphold structural integrity without deformation [102]. Hence, wings need to be lightweight, flexible, and resilient, rendering them captivating subjects for biomimetic

• development of self-cleaning surfaces and materials resistant to biofouling in marine environments. Legs Adhesive pads: The adhesive organ in Hymenoptera consists of a flexible cuticle pad (i.e., arolium) situated between the pretarsal claws, capable of unfolding and retracting with each step [125] (Figure 6A

• hairs, antennal sensilla, and contaminating particles. Microscopic combs and brushes act as filters for particles of different sizes, with larger particles being scraped off by the bristles and comb, while smaller particles are picked up by the brush’s flexible setae. In the honeybee, hairs on the legs

Nanoarchitectonics with cetrimonium bromide on metal nanoparticles for linker-free detection of toxic metal ions and catalytic degradation of 4-nitrophenol

• Akash Kumar and
• Raja Gopal Rayavarapu

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1312–1332, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.106

• potentially carcinogenic, and it is hard to predict their toxicity at early stages of exposure. In addition, industrial wastewater may contain toxic compounds such as the widely used 4-nitrophenol [1]. Hence, one need is to develop a dual-functional and flexible linker-free metal nanoparticle-based sensor

New design of operational MEMS bridges for measurements of properties of FEBID-based nanostructures

• Bartosz Pruchnik,
• Krzysztof Kwoka,
• Ewelina Gacka,
• Dominik Badura,
• Piotr Kunicki,
• Andrzej Sierakowski,
• Paweł Janus,
• Tomasz Piasecki and
• Teodor Gotszalk

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1273–1282, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.103

• residual strain field induced by processing steps. The concept of eigenstrain is flexible enough to include all residual stresses in solids [42]. This is done using pseudo-thermal strain, which induces an arbitrary eigenstrain field, which is then compared with experimental data [43]. The aim of the

Functional morphology of cleaning devices in the damselfly Ischnura elegans (Odonata, Coenagrionidae)

• Silvana Piersanti,
• Gianandrea Salerno,
• Wencke Krings,
• Stanislav Gorb and
• Manuela Rebora

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1260–1272, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.102

• flexible because of the lower degree of sclerotization, and (3) blue areas are rubber-like with a relatively high proportion of resilin-like proteins or unsclerotized chitin. This method has already been widely applied in the literature [37][38][39][40]. The insects to be observed were frozen in a

• and, therefore, mechanical properties [28]. The interdigitated cuticular laminar expansions overlapping at different heights constitute a very flexible surface because of their high resilin content, which enables them to gently press against the antennal surface to be cleaned, thereby squeezing the

Unveiling the potential of alginate-based nanomaterials in sensing technology and smart delivery applications

• Shakhzodjon Uzokboev,
• Khojimukhammad Akhmadbekov,
• Ra’no Nuritdinova,
• Salah M. Tawfik and
• Yong-Ill Lee

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1077–1104, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.88

• variable chemical compositions, customizable characteristics, easy processability, great biocompatibility and biodegradability, and nontoxicity, opening up new avenues for the creation of flexible sensing technologies [26][27]. Alginate-based nanomaterials are among the most widely studied biopolymers for

• results in sensing hydrogen peroxide even at very small concentrations [116]. The synergistic combination of each component’s characteristics produced a novel flexible nanocomposite with an excellent ability to detect hydrogen peroxide, which was then used to detect ʟ-lactate oxidation. The hydrogel was

Effect of wavelength and liquid on formation of Ag, Au, Ag/Au nanoparticles via picosecond laser ablation and SERS-based detection of DMMP

• Sree Satya Bharati Moram,
• Chandu Byram and
• Venugopal Rao Soma

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1054–1069, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.86

• -dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Furthermore, NPs of various sizes ranging from 6 to 35 nm were loaded onto a filter paper by a simple and effective drop-casting approach to achieve flexible surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrates/sensors. These substrates were tested using a simple, portable

• affordable and accessible fabrication methods which guarantee stability and reproducibility along with accessible sample collection of SERS substrates. There has been significant interest in utilizing flexible materials such as paper, nitrocellulose, polymer film, cotton fabrics, adhesive tape, glass fibers

• , and biomaterials for constructing flexible SERS substrates, owing to their numerous advantages over traditional options such as glass and silicon [31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39]. Detecting hazardous molecules, such as pesticides, explosives, and chemical threats (nerve agents) using flexible SERS

Recent progress on field-effect transistor-based biosensors: device perspective

• Billel Smaani,
• Fares Nafa,
• Mohamed Salah Benlatrech,
• Ismahan Mahdi,
• Hamza Akroum,
• Mohamed walid Azizi,
• Khaled Harrar and
• Sayan Kanungo

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 977–994, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.80

• OTFT-based biosensor. In this structure, one nanocavity was created below the organic semiconductor channel and above the electrode gate for better sensitivity and for advanced flexible biochip applications. Dinaphtho, thieno, and thiophene (DNTT) materials were implemented in the channel, and a

Beyond biomimicry – next generation applications of bioinspired adhesives from microfluidics to composites

• Dan Sameoto

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 965–976, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.79

• functional in contact with these liquids and have enabled for a variety of flexible electronics applications. While the geckofluidics project was an example of a traditional application enhanced through the use of an improved bonding solution, the key to advancing the utility of biomimetic adhesives lies in

Electrospun nanofibers: building blocks for the repair of bone tissue

• Tuğrul Mert Serim,
• Gülin Amasya,
• Tuğba Eren-Böncü,
• Ceyda Tuba Şengel-Türk and
• Ayşe Nurten Özdemir

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 941–953, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.77

• to the healing process through their porous and flexible three-dimensional structure. They can increase the permeability of gases and liquids and reduce infection by bacteria because of their high filtration efficiency. Also, there is the great possibility of adding other functional moieties into the

The effect of age on the attachment ability of stick insects (Phasmatodea)

• Marie Grote,
• Stanislav N. Gorb and
• Thies H. Büscher

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 867–883, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.72

• different attachment mechanisms evolved in insects, namely, hairy pads consisting of flexible setae, which adapt to the surface topography, and smooth pads possessing a soft and deformable cuticle to comply with the substrate profile [9]. Both pad types, hairy and smooth, aim to maximize contact area with

• resulting actual contact area leads to lower attachment performance [72][73][74]. Most flexible cuticle consists at least partially of resilin [50][75][76], which needs water as a plasticizer to retain its extraordinary mechanical properties [70]. As the water evaporates, resilin becomes brittle and less

• out the pad cuticle, making it less flexible and providing reduced attachment [40]. Jiao et al. [73] also reported desiccation and depletion of pad fluid to reduce adhesion in excised tarsi. Pad deflation could also have negative influence on sensory feedback. The mechanoreceptors on the pads of stick

Electrospun polysuccinimide scaffolds containing different salts as potential wound dressing material

• Veronika Pálos,
• Krisztina S. Nagy,
• Rita Pázmány,
• Krisztina Juriga-Tóth,
• Bálint Budavári,
• Judit Domokos,
• Dóra Szabó,
• Ákos Zsembery and
• Angela Jedlovszky-Hajdu

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 781–796, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.65

• they are flexible, variable in weight, have excellent biocompatibility, are resistant to biochemical degradation, and have suitable physical and mechanical characteristics. Moreover, they can be formed to the desired shape [6]. It is also worth mentioning that different drugs or other additives can be

Elastic modulus of β-Ga₂O₃ nanowires measured by resonance and three-point bending techniques

• Annamarija Trausa,
• Sven Oras,
• Sergei Vlassov,
• Mikk Antsov,
• Tauno Tiirats,
• Andreas Kyritsakis,
• Boris Polyakov and
• Edgars Butanovs

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 704–712, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.58

• chemical stability [4][5]. Ga2O3 is a promising candidate for visible-blind UV-light sensors [3], power devices and optoelectronics [6][7][8][9], gas sensors [10], and memory devices [8]. These applications can be scaled down to the nanoscale, including flexible nanodevices. Ga2O3 nanowires (NWs) could be

• suitable for use on bendable and stretchable substrates in line with the current trends in electronic technologies focusing on flexible electronic device development [11][12]. Consequently, understanding the mechanical properties of β-Ga2O3 NWs becomes an important step. For instance, precise determination

• of the elastic modulus is essential for designing Ga2O3-based nanomechanical resonators or flexible field-effect transistors [13]. However, a minimal amount of research has been dedicated to exploring and understanding the mechanical properties of Ga2O3 NWs [14]. There are several methods available

Functional fibrillar interfaces: Biological hair as inspiration across scales

• Guillermo J. Amador,
• Brett Klaassen van Oorschot,
• Caiying Liao,
• Jianing Wu and
• Da Wei

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 664–677, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.55

• generation. The flagella of archaea and bacteria are themselves passive hairs and are driven by protein motors at the base. Hair-like ultrastructures, or mastigonemes, on eukaryotic flagella/cilia comprise helical glycoproteins (≈10–20 nm thick) and lack a membrane [106]. They can be either stiff or flexible

• waves’ travelling direction, while sperm cells swim towards the opposite direction. This modulation effect has already inspired designs of swimming microrobots [110]. The role of thin and flexible hairs (fibrous mastigonemes) is still, to some extent, enigmatic. These soft hairs may appear in a range of

Comparative analysis of the ultrastructure and adhesive secretion pathways of different smooth attachment pads of the stick insect Medauroidea extradentata (Phasmatodea)

• Julian Thomas,
• Stanislav N. Gorb and
• Thies H. Büscher

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 612–630, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.52

• , indicating the presence of a meshed network of flexible cuticle fibres within the attachment pad (Figure 2B). This coarse meshed-fibre structure was also observed in SEM (Figure 2C). In addition, using CLSM, the attachment pad structure exhibited a low degree of sclerotization indicating a presumably soft

• with toluidine blue and exhibits a low degree of sclerotization in CLSM. Moreover, it presents a unique morphology, appearing fanned out, suggesting a more flexible structure (Figure 4B, Figure 4D). Based on these characteristics, this cuticle region is named flexible cuticle (fc). The µCT imaging of

AFM-IR investigation of thin PECVD SiO_x films on a polypropylene substrate in the surface-sensitive mode

• Hendrik Müller,
• Hartmut Stadler,
• Teresa de los Arcos,
• Adrian Keller and
• Guido Grundmeier

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 603–611, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.51

• sample excitation). However, it is much more flexible in the choice of the drive and detection frequencies, as only the mixing frequency needs to match a system resonance and not the individual frequencies themselves. Here, we use AFM-IR in the surface-sensitive mode to investigate thin silicon oxide

Heat-induced morphological changes in silver nanowires deposited on a patterned silicon substrate

• Elyad Damerchi,
• Sven Oras,
• Edgars Butanovs,
• Allar Liivlaid,
• Mikk Antsov,
• Boris Polyakov,
• Annamarija Trausa,
• Veronika Zadin,
• Andreas Kyritsakis,
• Loïc Vidal,
• Karine Mougin,
• Siim Pikker and
• Sergei Vlassov

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 435–446, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.39

• ; silver nanowires; Introduction Metal nanowires (NWs) are promising key elements in a wide range of applications, including solar cells [1], smart windows [2], flexible sensors [3], touch screens [4], biocompatible polymer binders [5], temperature sensing [6], medical materials [7], and key elements of

• indium tin oxide (ITO), which currently serves as the industry standard for transparent conductive films, the Ag NW network is significantly more mechanically flexible and offers a broader optical transmittance range that extends well beyond the visible region [13][14]. Another related application of Ag

• NW networks is in highly flexible transparent film heaters [15]. In recent years, Ag NWs have garnered attention as a key element in neuromorphic computing devices [16]. In the context of the applications mentioned, Ag NWs are subjected to elevated temperatures caused by Joule heating [17]. Moreover

On the mechanism of piezoresistance in nanocrystalline graphite

• Sandeep Kumar,
• Simone Dehm and
• Ralph Krupke

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 376–384, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.34

• , Technische Universität Darmstadt, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany 10.3762/bjnano.15.34 Abstract Strain sensors are sensitive to mechanical deformations and enable the detection of strain also within integrated electronics. For flexible displays, the use of a seamlessly integrated strain sensor would be beneficial

• , and graphene is already in use as a transparent and flexible conductor. However, graphene intrinsically lacks a strong response, and only by engineering defects, such as grain boundaries, one can induce piezoresistivity. Nanocrystalline graphene (NCG), a derivative form of graphene, exhibits a high

• applied strain on NCG placed on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates provide intriguing insights into the underlying mechanism. Raman measurements, in conjunction with strain applied to NCG grown on flexible glass, indicate that the strain is concentrated at the grain boundaries for smaller strain

Ultrasensitive and ultrastretchable metal crack strain sensor based on helical polydimethylsiloxane

• Shangbi Chen,
• Dewen Liu,
• Weiwei Chen,
• Huajiang Chen,
• Jiawei Li and
• Jinfang Wang

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 270–278, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.25

• ], monitoring human health [6][7][8], medical treatment [9][10], soft robotics [11][12], and human–computer interaction [13][14][15]. Numerous flexible strain sensors employing various mechanisms such as piezoresistivity [16][17], capacitance [18][19], and piezoelectricity have been developed to fulfill the

• structure consisting of a sensing layer composed of CNTs and MXene on a flexible thermoplastic polyurethane substrate [34]. The strain sensor exhibits exceptional sensing range (390%) and sensitivity (GF = 2159.5). These findings highlight the importance of rational design of geometric structures and

• threshold strain required to trigger this alarm could be adjusted by manipulating the helix indices of the helical sensor. Conclusion In summary, this study presents a straightforward method for producing a remarkably flexible resistive strain sensor by utilizing a Au thin film on a helical structure. The

Multiscale modelling of biomolecular corona formation on metallic surfaces

• Parinaz Mosaddeghi Amini,
• Ian Rouse,
• Julia Subbotina and
• Vladimir Lobaskin

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 215–229, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.21

• immobilisation. This can potentially affect their binding behavior. This can be especially significant for caseins, as they belong to the group of flexible milk proteins with no tertiary structure. Globular milk proteins (lactoglobulin and lactalbumin) are expected to be less prone to this shortcoming of the UA

Spatial mapping of photovoltage and light-induced displacement of on-chip coupled piezo/photodiodes by Kelvin probe force microscopy under modulated illumination

• Zeinab Eftekhari,
• Nasim Rezaei,
• Hidde Stokkel,
• Jian-Yao Zheng,
• Andrea Cerreta,
• Ilka Hermes,
• Minh Nguyen,
• Guus Rijnders and
• Rebecca Saive

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 1059–1067, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.87

• to the flexible center of the membrane and clamped edges, and it is not attributed to the variation of induced photovoltage. The simulation results of the same device (Figure 3d) confirm the shape and range of displacement mapping over the active area. It is instructive to note that ideally the

Two-dimensional molecular networks at the solid/liquid interface and the role of alkyl chains in their building blocks

• Suyi Liu,
• Yasuo Norikane and
• Yoshihiro Kikkawa

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 872–892, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.72

• related to energy and environment, among others. However, the fabrication of ordered nanoarchitectures remains a challenge, even in two dimensions. Therefore, a deeper understanding of the self-assembly processes and substantial factors for building ordered structures is critical for tailoring flexible

A wearable nanoscale heart sound sensor based on P(VDF-TrFE)/ZnO/GR and its application in cardiac disease detection

• Yi Luo,
• Jian Liu,
• Jiachang Zhang,
• Yu Xiao,
• Ying Wu and
• Zhidong Zhao

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 819–833, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.67

• University, Hangzhou 310018, China School of Cyberspace Security, Hangzhou DIANZI University, Hangzhou 310018, China 10.3762/bjnano.14.67 Abstract This paper describes a method for preparing flexible composite piezoelectric nanofilms of P(VDF-TrFE)/ZnO/graphene using a high-voltage electrospinning method

• advancement in wearable electronic devices within the healthcare field, leading to several noteworthy breakthroughs. For instance, D. Wan et al. [11] presented a groundbreaking development in the form of a flexible wearable friction patch. This innovative patch consists of a dual-layer PDMS membrane infused

• polymer material with a wide frequency bandwidth, good biocompatibility, and softness. It is one of the preferred materials for flexible piezoelectric sensors [12]. However, compared to rigid piezoelectric materials such as PZT, pure P(VDF-TrFE) has inferior piezoelectric properties [13]. Researchers have

Silver-based SERS substrates fabricated using a 3D printed microfluidic device

• Phommachith Sonexai,
• Minh Van Nguyen,
• Bui The Huy and
• Yong-Ill Lee

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 793–803, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.65

• transform a liquid resin into a solid plastic. When exposed to laser radiation with an appropriate wavelength, the short molecular chains in photocurable resins polymerize to form rigid or flexible solid geometries. As the printing limit of the 3D line dimension suggested by the Formlabs 3 printer

In situ magnesiothermic reduction synthesis of a Ge@C composite for high-performance lithium-ion batterie anodes

• Ha Tran Huu,
• Ngoc Phi Nguyen,
• Vuong Hoang Ngo,
• Huy Hoang Luc,
• Minh Kha Le,
• Minh Thu Nguyen,
• My Loan Phung Le,
• Hye Rim Kim,
• In Young Kim,
• Sung Jin Kim,
• Van Man Tran and
• Vien Vo

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 751–761, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.62

• performance of Ge-based anodes, a carbon matrix is the most popular choice to disperse nanoparticles, avoiding their aggregation and reducing the internal stress induced by volume variation, because of its flexible structure and high conductivity [30][31][32]. In our recent study, the combination of Ge

Cross-sectional Kelvin probe force microscopy on III–V epitaxial multilayer stacks: challenges and perspectives

• Mattia da Lisca,
• José Alvarez,
• James P. Connolly,
• Nicolas Vaissiere,
• Karim Mekhazni,
• Jean Decobert and
• Jean-Paul Kleider

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 725–737, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.59

• and continuity equations numerically in two dimensions and includes flexible descriptions of bulk and surface defect distributions. KELSCAN simulates the experimental setup by sequentially moving the AFM tip across the surface of the sample, statically solving the semiconductor equations at each