Micro- and nanoscale effects in biological and bioinspired materials and surfaces

• Thies H. Büscher,
• Rhainer Guillermo Ferreira,
• Manuela Rebora and
• Stanislav N. Gorb

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 214–217, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.14

• information on the design of natural ultrablack materials. Adhesion is a widespread topic in the field of nanotechnology and subject to various studies investigating the relationships between structures and functions. As the physical constraints for adhesive systems are omnipresent for animals and plants, but

• varying environmental parameters. For terrestrial animals, adhesive systems usually provide temporary adhesion and do not make use of cements. A study on the evolution of subdigital microstructures in Cyrtodactylus geckos by Ginal et al. [16] addressed how adhesive microstructures (setae) have

• envelope of seeds supports seed germination, protection from pathogens and predators, and attachment to various surfaces for dispersal. This three-dimensional polysaccharide network is capable of absorbing large amounts of water to function either as an efficient lubricant or a strong adhesive depending on

Functional surface engineering for cultural heritage protection: the role of superhydrophobic and superoleophobic coatings – a comprehensive review

• Giuseppe Cesare Lama,
• Marino Lavorgna,
• Letizia Verdolotti,
• Federica Recupido,
• Giovanna Giuliana Buonocore and
• Bharat Bhushan

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 63–96, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.6

Subdigital integumentary microstructure in Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkota): do those lineages with incipiently expressed toepads exclusively exhibit adhesive setae?

• Philipp Ginal,
• Yannick Ecker,
• Timothy Higham,
• L. Lee Grismer,
• Benjamin Wipfler,
• Dennis Rödder,
• Anthony Russell and
• Jendrian Riedel

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 38–56, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.4

• /bjnano.17.4 Abstract In taxa such as insects, spiders, bats, frogs, and lizards, adhesive structures at the distal ends of their limbs have independently evolved, enabling the animals to adhere to inclined or even inverted surfaces. The adhesive apparatus of geckos functions via a complex interaction

• among muscles, bones, vascular tissue, and microscopic epidermal microstructures. The microstructures of geckos are classifiable as spinules, spines, prongs and setae, but only setae, which possess spatulate tips, promote adhesive competency sufficient to support body mass employing van der Waals forces

• utilize the environment that they inhabit have engendered considerable scientific interest. In several taxa, such as insects, spiders, some bats, frogs and lizards, adhesive structures at the distal ends of the limbs have independently evolved, allowing these animals to adhere to inclined or even inverted

Quantitative estimation of nanoparticle/substrate adhesion by atomic force microscopy

• Aydan Çiçek,
• Markus Kratzer,
• Christian Teichert and
• Christian Mitterer

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 1–14, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.1

• model provides a criterion to determine whether an NP escapes or is captured upon impact. This condition is expressed as: where F0 is the force acting to detach the NP from the surface, and 6πRγ is the adhesive force trying to hold the NP on the surface. R represents the radius of curvature defining the

Molecular and mechanical insights into gecko seta adhesion: multiscale simulations combining molecular dynamics and the finite element method

• Yash Jain,
• Saeed Norouzi,
• Tobias Materzok,
• Stanislav N. Gorb and
• Florian Müller-Plathe

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 2055–2076, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.141

• structures on their feet [1][2]. This bioadhesion mechanism has been studied extensively, especially for biomimetic adhesive applications [3][4][5][6][7][8][9]. Understanding these interactions presents a formidable challenge in biophysics and materials science due to the extremely small length and time

• ][20] are necessary to capture both large-scale geometry and local molecular interactions at the adhesive interface. There have been several pure finite element studies of gecko adhesion, which examine mechanisms like peeling from and pushing (loading) onto a substrate [21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28

• averaging the force of each individual spatula at its own force minima, which yielded an average adhesion force of |Fmin| = 33.2 ± 4.7 nN. This matches the adhesive force of ≈35 nN reported in our previous work for the same molecular spatula model at a similar loading rate [10][13]. In the previous work, we

Beyond the shell: exploring polymer–lipid interfaces in core–shell nanofibers to carry hyaluronic acid and β-caryophyllene

• Aline Tavares da Silva Barreto,
• Francisco Alexandrino-Júnior,
• Bráulio Soares Arcanjo,
• Paulo Henrique de Souza Picciani and
• Kattya Gyselle de Holanda e Silva

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 2015–2033, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.139

• -sectional imaging, and attenuated total reflectance with Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy provided compelling evidence for the successful formation of the intended core–shell structure. The resulting nanofibers exhibited surface hydrophobicity, suggesting potential for anti-adhesive

The cement of the tube-dwelling polychaete Sabellaria alveolata: a complex composite adhesive material

• Emilie Duthoo,
• Aurélie Lambert,
• Pierre Becker,
• Carla Pugliese,
• Jean-Marc Baele,
• Arnaud Delfairière,
• Matthew J. Harrington and
• Patrick Flammang

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1998–2014, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.138

• of inspiration for developing biomimetic adhesives. However, a thorough understanding of their composition and operating mechanism is essential for advancing such applications. Sabellariid tubeworms are model organisms in bioadhesion research, and their adhesive system has been characterized in

• several studies. However, some aspects of cement formation are still poorly understood and several differences have been pointed out between the two main model species. This study aims to investigate the adhesive system of Sabellaria alveolata by identifying new potential adhesive proteins, as well as

• describing the ultrastructure and elemental composition of the cement cells and their secretion. Different adhesive proteins are packaged in one or the other of two types of cement cells, namely, those containing homogeneous granules and those containing heterogeneous granules with lamellar inclusions

Mechanical property measurements enabled by short-term Fourier-transform of atomic force microscopy thermal deflection analysis

• Thomas Mathias,
• Roland Bennewitz and
• Philip Egberts

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1952–1962, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.136

• normal force for the DMT, JKR, and COS models are then given by Equation 5, Equation 6, and Equation 7, respectively [24][28]: where R is the tip radius and Fa is the adhesive force. In Equation 7, we use the transition parameter λ to bridge the two contact streams. We then denote and and γ is the work

Self-assembly and adhesive properties of Pollicipes pollicipes barnacle cement protein cp19k: influence of pH and ionic strength

• Shrutika Sawant,
• Anne Marie Power and
• J. Gerard Wall

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1863–1872, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.129

• Sciences, University of Galway H91 TK33, Ireland 10.3762/bjnano.16.129 Abstract Marine organisms such as barnacles rely on a complex underwater adhesive system, driven by self-assembly and intermolecular associations between cement proteins, for permanent attachment to a variety of surface types. In this

• study, we investigated the influence of environmental parameters on the self-assembly of recombinant cp19k, a key adhesive protein in Pollicipes pollicipes. Using TEM imaging, a low pH (4.0) and high salt concentration (600 mM NaCl) environment, mimicking P. pollicipes gland conditions, was identified

• bioinspired adhesives and biomaterials. Keywords: adhesive; amyloid fibre; barnacle cement protein; surface coating; transmission electron microscopy; Introduction Marine adhesives are naturally occurring substances secreted by a variety of organisms to attach themselves to submerged surfaces such as rocks

Exploring the potential of polymers: advancements in oral nanocarrier technology

• Rousilândia de Araujo Silva,
• Igor Eduardo Silva Arruda,
• Luise Lopes Chaves,
• Mônica Felts de La Roca Soares and
• Jose Lamartine Soares Sobrinho

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1751–1793, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.122

• absorption by interacting with food, digestive enzymes, bile salts, electrolytes, and mucus. Polymers enable diverse surface functionalities tailored to therapeutic demands, including adhesive, bioinert, or charge-conversion functionalities that modify zeta potential and hydrophilic properties, among others

Nanotechnology-based approaches for the removal of microplastics from wastewater: a comprehensive review

• Nayanathara O Sanjeev,
• Manjunath Singanodi Vallabha and
• Rebekah Rubidha Lisha Rabi

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1607–1632, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.114

• thermal, acidic, and saline conditions. Its self-adhesive nature, biocompatibility, and durability make it a promising preventive strategy at the source. Similarly, nanocellulose, derived from renewable biomass, exhibits a high surface area and tunable surface chemistry, making it effective for adsorbing

Better together: biomimetic nanomedicines for high performance tumor therapy

• Imran Shair Mohammad,
• Gizem Kursunluoglu,
• Anup Kumar Patel,
• Hafiz Muhammad Ishaq,
• Cansu Umran Tunc,
• Dilek Kanarya,
• Mubashar Rehman,
• Omer Aydin and
• Yin Lifang

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1246–1276, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.92

Hydrogels and nanogels: effectiveness in dermal applications

• Jéssica da Cruz Ludwig,
• Diana Fortkamp Grigoletto,
• Daniele Fernanda Renzi,
• Wolf-Rainer Abraham,
• Daniel de Paula and
• Najeh Maissar Khalil

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1216–1233, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.90

• by electronic beam irradiation. Polyvinyl alcohol hydrogels can be used for wound healing. Suhaeri et al. (2018) manufactured an adhesive hydrogel with PVA and a derivative of human pulmonary fibroblasts, in addition to ciprofloxacin, for treating infected wounds [95]. For the preparation of the

Mechanical stability of individual bacterial cells under different osmotic pressure conditions: a nanoindentation study of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

• Lizeth García-Torres,
• Idania De Alba Montero,
• Eleazar Samuel Kolosovas-Machuca,
• Facundo Ruiz,
• Sumati Bhatia,
• Jose Luis Cuellar Camacho and
• Jaime Ruiz-García

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1171–1183, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.86

• regular adhesive tape, and coated with 5 μL of the cationic polymer poly-ʟ-lysine (PLL, MW 40 kDa, Sigma-Aldrich). The drop of PLL was not allowed to dry but incubated for 10 min, and then the surfaces were repeatedly rinsed with Milli-Q water to allow the formation of a thin film. This coating promotes

• external deformation (k), an estimation of their elasticity modulus (Y), and their adhesive behavior towards the AFM tip to the substrate (FA). Generated maps from nanoindentations indicated that PA tolerates drastic changes in osmotic pressure from isotonic (0.35 Osm) to hypotonic (<0.05 Osm) or

Influence of ion beam current on the structural, optical, and mechanical properties of TiO₂ coatings: ion beam-assisted vs conventional electron beam evaporation

• Agata Obstarczyk and
• Urszula Wawrzaszek

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1097–1112, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.81

• , adhesive, and durable TiO2 coatings with improved optical and mechanical properties, suitable for applications requiring enhanced wear resistance. Keywords: electron beam evaporation; ion beam-assisted deposition; mechanical properties; nanocrystalline anatase; optical properties; TiO2 coatings

Soft materials nanoarchitectonics: liquid crystals, polymers, gels, biomaterials, and others

• Katsuhiko Ariga

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1025–1067, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.77

• swelling, degradability, self-repairing ability, and reworkability. It is anticipated that this will contribute to a number of research fields, including polymer degradation and recycling, the extension of the lifespan of polymer materials, the development of adhesive polymers for specific applications

Colloidal few layered graphene–tannic acid preserves the biocompatibility of periodontal ligament cells

• Teissir Ben Ammar,
• Naji Kharouf,
• Dominique Vautier,
• Housseinou Ba,
• Nivedita Sudheer,
• Philippe Lavalle and
• Vincent Ball

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 664–677, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.51

• electron analyzer and a dual-anode source (Mg/Al). Samples were mounted on holders using conductive double-sided carbon adhesive tapes. XPS measurements utilized the monochromatic Al Kα line at 1486.6 eV. An initial survey scan identified elements present in each sample, followed by high-resolution scans

Aprepitant-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles: a novel approach to enhance oral bioavailability

• Mazhar Hussain,
• Muhammad Farooq,
• Muhammad Asad Saeed,
• Muhammad Ijaz,
• Sherjeel Adnan,
• Zeeshan Masood,
• Muhammad Waqas,
• Wafa Ishaq and
• Nabeela Ameer

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 652–663, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.50

• . Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) photographs of APT-NPs were obtained on a JSM-6380A, Joel, Japan operating at a voltage of 10.0 kV. The specimens were mounted on a metallic stub with double-sided adhesive tape and gold-coated in an argon atmosphere prior to observation [28]. Drug excipient interaction

Polyurethane/silk fibroin-based electrospun membranes for wound healing and skin substitute applications

• Iqra Zainab,
• Zohra Naseem,
• Syeda Rubab Batool,
• Muhammad Waqas,
• Ahsan Nazir and
• Muhammad Anwaar Nazeer

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 591–612, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.46

• response, is extensively investigated by addressing its molecular structure, composition, and medical uses. PU is a candidate for potential biomedical applications because of its strength, flexibility, biocompatibility, cell-adhesive properties, and high resistance to biodegradation. PU combined with silk

• method was to provide a solution to the problems of traditional heat-induced shape memory polymers. Additionally, PDA was chosen as it is highly adhesive, biocompatible, and a great photothermal converter. SMPU fibers were made using electrospinning, and the fibers were pre-coated with PDA using post

Synthetic-polymer-assisted antisense oligonucleotide delivery: targeted approaches for precision disease treatment

• Ana Cubillo Alvarez,
• Dylan Maguire and
• Ruairí P. Brannigan

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 435–463, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.34

Biomimetics and bioinspired surfaces: from nature to theory and applications

• Rhainer Guillermo Ferreira,
• Thies H. Büscher,
• Manuela Rebora,
• Poramate Manoonpong,
• Zhendong Dai and
• Stanislav N. Gorb

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 418–421, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.32

• technology and new insights into the future of this field of research. Striking advance has been made regarding the study of surfaces on biological models, especially insects. For instance, insect attachment devices and adhesive secretions were thoroughly studied regarding the impact of contamination [2] and

• ageing [3]. Gorb and Gorb [2] experimentally investigated how different plant waxes affect the attachment performance of leaf beetles and how the adhesive system of these beetles are vulnerable to the shape and dimensions of wax contaminations. A study on larger insects (stick insects) with a

• considerable long-life expectancy by Grote et al. [3] focused on the structure and performance changes of the adhesive system during aging. The attachment performance of these insects decreases with increasing age, and was shown to be related to changes of the attachment pads regarding their elasticity

Pulsed laser in liquid grafting of gold nanoparticle–carbon support composites

• Madeleine K. Wilsey,
• Teona Taseska,
• Qishen Lyu,
• Connor P. Cox and
• Astrid M. Müller

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 349–361, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.26

• 200 W and 15 kV. Samples were washed with water, dried, and affixed to double-sided adhesive copper tape. Survey scans were averaged over five scans and spanned 0–1200 eV with a 1 eV step size, 200 ms dwell time, and 160 eV pass energy. High-resolution core level scans were averaged over five scans

Biomimetic nanocarriers: integrating natural functions for advanced therapeutic applications

• Hugo Felix Perini,
• Beatriz Sodré Matos,
• Carlo José Freire de Oliveira and
• Marcos Vinicius da Silva

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1619–1626, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.127

• homotypic adhesive interactions through selectins, E-cadherins, Thomsen–Friedenreich (TF) antigens, the immunoglobulin superfamily (Ig-SF), and the interaction of SIRP-α with CD47 inhibit the phagocytosis of these cells, thus preventing their capture by dendritic cells [62][65][66]. Nanocarriers associated

Natural nanofibers embedded in the seed mucilage envelope: composite hydrogels with specific adhesive and frictional properties

• Agnieszka Kreitschitz and
• Stanislav N. Gorb

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1603–1618, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.126

• adhesive properties, and ecological aspects associated with these properties. We also summarise and discuss the results of our studies from the last few years conducted on mucilage envelopes and summarise them to demonstrate the current state of knowledge on this topic (Figure 2). Review Spatial structure

• friction of mucilage just after hydration. In time series of measurements, the friction increased. The water loss from the mucilage caused an increase of its stiffness and adhesive properties [26]. The decreasing hydration level and the increasing viscosity of flax mucilage play an important role in the

• ]. Adhesive properties Seed dispersal is a crucial factor for many plants, allowing for the genetic continuity as well as for occupying new habitats. Through diverse mechanisms developed by the plants, seeds can be dispersed at a local scale (in the vicinity of mother plant) or transported over longer

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

• [78][80]. Additionally, the interaction between bee mandibles and propolis highlights the potential for developing anti-adhesive surfaces [81]. Bioinspired surfaces based on honeybee mandibles have been shown to reduce propolis adhesion by over 40% compared to control surfaces, demonstrating

• 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

• ). The arolium may be structured in lines perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pretarsus [126]. When extended (actively or passively) [127], the arolium comes into contact with the surface, thereby enhancing its adhesive contact area. Hymenopteran species serve as valuable sources of inspiration