Comparative kinematical analyses of Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) snap traps

• Simon Poppinga,
• Tim Kampowski,
• Amélie Metzger,
• Olga Speck and
• Thomas Speck

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2016, 7, 664–674, doi:10.3762/bjnano.7.59

• Simon Poppinga Tim Kampowski Amelie Metzger Olga Speck Thomas Speck Plant Biomechanics Group, Botanic Garden, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestraße 1, 79104 Freiburg, Germany Freiburg Materials Research Center (FMF), University of Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Straße 21, 79104 Freiburg, Germany Freiburg

• context. Keywords: biomechanics; carnivorous plant; Droseraceae; fast plant movement; functional morphology; Introduction The terrestrial Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) is certainly the most iconic carnivorous plant [1][2][3], but the spectacular movement of its snap traps (Figure 1) is not yet fully

Mandibular gnathobases of marine planktonic copepods – feeding tools with complex micro- and nanoscale composite architectures

• Jan Michels and
• Stanislav N. Gorb

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2015, 6, 674–685, doi:10.3762/bjnano.6.68

• Jan Michels Stanislav N. Gorb Department of Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Institute of Zoology, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Am Botanischen Garten 1–9, D-24118 Kiel, Germany Biological Oceanography, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Düsternbrooker Weg 20, D

From sticky to slippery: Biological and biologically-inspired adhesion and friction

• Stanislav N. Gorb and
• Kerstin Koch

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2014, 5, 1450–1451, doi:10.3762/bjnano.5.157

• Stanislav N. Gorb Kerstin Koch Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, Am Botanischen Garten 1–9, Kiel 24098, Germany Rhine-Waal-University of Applied Sciences, Landwehr 4, 47533 Kleve, Germany 10.3762/bjnano.5.157 Physical phenomena such as adhesion and

• surfaces adapted to the enhancement, reduction, or optimization of their frictional and adhesive behavior. The study of these adaptations may also provide inspirations for the design of biologically-inspired artificial surfaces. The majority of books which discuss the biomechanics of contact phenomena are

Influence of the PDMS substrate stiffness on the adhesion of Acanthamoeba castellanii

• Sören B. Gutekunst,
• Carsten Grabosch,
• Alexander Kovalev,
• Stanislav N. Gorb and
• Christine Selhuber-Unkel

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2014, 5, 1393–1398, doi:10.3762/bjnano.5.152

• Biomechanics, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Am Botanischen Garten 9, D-24118 Kiel, Germany 10.3762/bjnano.5.152 Abstract Background: Mechanosensing of cells, particularly the cellular response to substrates with different elastic properties, has been discovered in recent years, but almost

Surface topography and contact mechanics of dry and wet human skin

• Alexander E. Kovalev,
• Kirstin Dening,
• Bo N. J. Persson and
• Stanislav N. Gorb

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2014, 5, 1341–1348, doi:10.3762/bjnano.5.147

• Alexander E. Kovalev Kirstin Dening Bo N. J. Persson Stanislav N. Gorb Department of Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute, University of Kiel, Am Botanischen Garten 1-9, D-24098 Kiel, Germany IFF, FZ-Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany 10.3762/bjnano.5.147 Abstract The surface

Physical principles of fluid-mediated insect attachment - Shouldn’t insects slip?

• Jan-Henning Dirks

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2014, 5, 1160–1166, doi:10.3762/bjnano.5.127

• : adhesion; friction; insect biomechanics; tribology; Review How do insects adhere to surfaces? More than 80% of the animal species in the world are arthropods [1], and amongst them insects can be considered probably the evolutionarily most successful group. For hundreds of millions of years they are

• of the Insect Biomechanics Workgroup, Department or Zoology, University of Cambridge. This study was supported by the Max Planck Society.

Dry friction of microstructured polymer surfaces inspired by snake skin

• Martina J. Baum,
• Lars Heepe,
• Elena Fadeeva and
• Stanislav N. Gorb

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2014, 5, 1091–1103, doi:10.3762/bjnano.5.122

• Martina J. Baum Lars Heepe Elena Fadeeva Stanislav N. Gorb Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, Am Botanischen Garten 1–9, Kiel 24098, Germany Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V. (LZH), Hollerithallee 8, Hannover 30419, Germany 10.3762/bjnano.5.122 Abstract The

Insect attachment on crystalline bioinspired wax surfaces formed by alkanes of varying chain lengths

• Elena Gorb,
• Sandro Böhm,
• Nadine Jacky,
• Louis-Philippe Maier,
• Kirstin Dening,
• Sasha Pechook,
• Boaz Pokroy and
• Stanislav Gorb

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2014, 5, 1031–1041, doi:10.3762/bjnano.5.116

• Elena Gorb Sandro Bohm Nadine Jacky Louis-Philippe Maier Kirstin Dening Sasha Pechook Boaz Pokroy Stanislav Gorb Department of Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, Am Botanischen Garten 9, D-24098 Kiel, Germany Department of Material Science and

Direct observation of microcavitation in underwater adhesion of mushroom-shaped adhesive microstructure

• Lars Heepe,
• Alexander E. Kovalev and
• Stanislav N. Gorb

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2014, 5, 903–909, doi:10.3762/bjnano.5.103

• Lars Heepe Alexander E. Kovalev Stanislav N. Gorb Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, Am Botanischen Garten 1-9, 24118 Kiel, Germany 10.3762/bjnano.5.103 Abstract In this work we report on experiments aimed at testing the cavitation hypothesis [Varenberg

Fibrillar adhesion with no clusterisation: Functional significance of material gradient along adhesive setae of insects

• Stanislav N. Gorb and
• Alexander E. Filippov

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2014, 5, 837–845, doi:10.3762/bjnano.5.95

• Stanislav N. Gorb Alexander E. Filippov Department Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute of the Kiel University, Am Botanischen Garten 1–9, D-24098 Kiel, Germany Donetsk Institute for Physics and Engineering, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Donetsk, Ukraine 10.3762

• various lineages of arthropods. Keywords: adhesion; attachment; biomechanics; computer modelling; cuticle; locomotion; material; surface; Introduction The contact formation of insect adhesive pads on various substrates depends on the pad ability to adapt to different surface topographies. The quality of

Measuring air layer volumes retained by submerged floating-ferns Salvinia and biomimetic superhydrophobic surfaces

• Matthias J. Mayser,
• Holger F. Bohn,
• Meike Reker and
• Wilhelm Barthlott

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2014, 5, 812–821, doi:10.3762/bjnano.5.93

• Matthias J. Mayser Holger F. Bohn Meike Reker Wilhelm Barthlott Microfluidics Lab, GRASP, University of Liege, Chemin des Chevreuils 1, 4000 Liege, Belgium Nees-Institute for Biodiversity of Plants, University Bonn, Venusbergweg 22, 53115 Bonn, Germany Plant Biomechanics Group Freiburg, University

Hairy suckers: the surface microstructure and its possible functional significance in the Octopus vulgaris sucker

• Francesca Tramacere,
• Esther Appel,
• Barbara Mazzolai and
• Stanislav N. Gorb

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2014, 5, 561–565, doi:10.3762/bjnano.5.66

• Francesca Tramacere Esther Appel Barbara Mazzolai Stanislav N. Gorb Center for Micro-BioRobotics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, Pontedera 56025, Italy Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, Am Botanischen Garten 1–9, Kiel 24098

• cohesive forces of the water (grey arrows) and the adhesion force exerted by hairs (black arrows). Acknowledgements The authors thank Joachim Oesert (Zoological Institute: Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Kiel University) for his skilful technical assistance at the SEM facility. This work was

Friction behavior of a microstructured polymer surface inspired by snake skin

• Martina J. Baum,
• Lars Heepe and
• Stanislav N. Gorb

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2014, 5, 83–97, doi:10.3762/bjnano.5.8

• Martina J. Baum Lars Heepe Stanislav N. Gorb Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, Am Botanischen Garten 1–9, Kiel 24098, Germany 10.3762/bjnano.5.8 Abstract The aim of this study was to understand the influence of microstructures found on ventral scales

Impact of cell shape in hierarchically structured plant surfaces on the attachment of male Colorado potato beetles (Leptinotarsa decemlineata)

• Bettina Prüm,
• Robin Seidel,
• Holger Florian Bohn and
• Thomas Speck

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2012, 3, 57–64, doi:10.3762/bjnano.3.7

• Bettina Prum Robin Seidel Holger Florian Bohn Thomas Speck Plant Biomechanics Group Freiburg, Botanic Garden, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestraße 1, 79104 Freiburg, Germany Bionics Competence Network BIOKON e. V., Ackerstraße 76, 13355 Berlin, Germany Competence Network

The effect of surface anisotropy in the slippery zone of Nepenthes alata pitchers on beetle attachment

• Elena V. Gorb and
• Stanislav N. Gorb

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2011, 2, 302–310, doi:10.3762/bjnano.2.35

• Elena V. Gorb Stanislav N. Gorb Department of Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute, University of Kiel, Am Botanischen Garten 1–9, D-24098 Kiel, Germany 10.3762/bjnano.2.35 Abstract The slippery zone in pitchers of the carnivorous plant Nepenthes alata bears scattered

• tribological properties of natural surfaces in general, and the present paper opens a new field in the biomechanics and biomimetics of this kind of system. Here, we were able to establish the first artificial prototypes of anisotropic surface structures by a two-step replicating process. In the framework of a

• joint project within the DFG priority program SPP 1420, whose members include the Department of Functional Morphology and Biomechanics at the University of Kiel and the Institute for Chemistry at the University of Osnabrück, the hierarchical structure of the slippery zone is currently being analysed at

Functional morphology, biomechanics and biomimetic potential of stem–branch connections in Dracaena reflexa and Freycinetia insignis

• Tom Masselter,
• Sandra Eckert and
• Thomas Speck

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2011, 2, 173–185, doi:10.3762/bjnano.2.21

• Tom Masselter Sandra Eckert Thomas Speck Plant Biomechanics Group Freiburg, Botanic Garden, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestraße 1, 79104 Freiburg, Germany Competence Network Biomimetics and Bionics Competence Network BIOKON e.V 10.3762/bjnano.2.21 Abstract Branching in

• Morphology and biomechanics The monocotyledonous mode of branching has important implications for the morphology and anatomy in Dracaena reflexa and Freycinetia insignis. It determines the shape of the branch–stem-junctions, the arrangement and course of the fibrous bundles in the main stem and in the

• ). It can be assumed that the ability to build secondary tissues has a high impact on growth form and biomechanics. While the attachment modes of D. reflexa and F. insignis are generally similar in that the lateral branches clasp around the main stem (Figure 2), the distinct separation (in some parts by

Superhydrophobic surfaces of the water bug Notonecta glauca: a model for friction reduction and air retention

• Petra Ditsche-Kuru,
• Erik S. Schneider,
• Jan-Erik Melskotte,
• Martin Brede,
• Alfred Leder and
• Wilhelm Barthlott

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2011, 2, 137–144, doi:10.3762/bjnano.2.17

• Biomechanics, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Am Botanischen Garten 1–9, Kiel, 24098, Germany Lehrstuhl Strömungsmechanik, Universität Rostock, Albert Einstein Str. 2, Rostock, 18051, Germany 10.3762/bjnano.2.17 Abstract Superhydrophobic surfaces of plants and animals are of great interest for

Review of "Contact Mechanics and Friction: Physical Principles and Applications" by Valentin L. Popov

• Stanislav N. Gorb

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2011, 2, 57–58, doi:10.3762/bjnano.2.7

• Stanislav N. Gorb Department of Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute at the University of Kiel, Am Botanischen Garten 1–9, D-24098 Kiel, Germany 10.3762/bjnano.2.7 Keywords: adhesion; capillarity; contact mechanics; continuum mechanics; friction; lubrication; materials

• . Such an interdisciplinary theoretical basis is provided by Popov’s book. Because of an increasing scientific interest in understanding contact mechanics and friction/adhesion phenomena in biological systems, Popov’s book is very useful in experimental biology and biomechanics (for an example of a

• therefore, can be used also by scientists specializing in biological surface science, biomechanics, experimental biology, and biomimetics. These scientists will find concise and precise models that aid quantitative description of surface phenomena in biology. The chapters of the book illustrate a few