Larvae adhere temporarily underwater: barnacles

1 of 1 Barnacles feeding / Kim Hansen / License

Footprint proteins used by cypris larvae of barnacles allow them to temporarily adhere during pre-settlement exploration via hydrophobic chemical interactions.

Biomimicry Taxonomy

	Move or stay put >
	Attach >
	Temporarily

Biomimetic Application Ideas

Synthetic reversible adhesion system Antifouling coatings

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[Collapse all sections] Summary

"Cypris larvae of the barnacle Semibalanus balanoides leave proteinaceous footprints on surfaces during pre-settlement exploration. These footprints are considered to mediate temporary adhesion of cyprids to substrata and, as such, represent a crucial first step in the colonization of man-made surfaces by barnacles, a process known as biofouling. Interest in this system also stems from the potential for a synthetic reversible adhesion system, based on the strategy used by cyprids…Footprint proteins adhered with greater tenacity to the hydrophobic tip. This may suggest conformational change and denaturing of the protein which would facilitate hydrophobic interaction by enhancing contact forces between -CH₃ functionalized tips and hydrophobic groups in the footprint molecule(s). Neither tip removed proteins from the -NH₂ substratum suggesting that specific chemical interactions, rather than simple wetting phenomena, govern the adhesion of footprint proteins to that surface." (Phang et al. 2009:616)

About the inspiring organism

Med_semibalanus_balanoides_upernavik_20070705

Semibalanus balanoides
Semibalanus balanoides (Linnaeus, 1767)

Some organism data provided by: ITIS: The Integrated Taxonomic Information System
Organism/taxonomy data provided by:
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2008 Annual Checklist

Bioinspired products and application ideas

Application Ideas: Antifouling coatings. Adhesives. Synthetic reversible adhesion system

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Marine, adhesives

Experts

Molecular Nanofabrication Group and MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology
G. Julius Vancso
University of Twente

References

Phang IY; Aldred N; Ling XY; Tomczak N; Huskens J; Clare AS; Vancso GJ. 2009. Chemistry-specific interfacial forces between barnacle (Semibalanus balanoides) cyprid footprint proteins and chemically functionalised AFM tips. The Journal of Adhesion. 85(9): 616 - 630.

Schmidt M; Cavaco A; Gierlinger N; Aldred N; Fratzl P; Grunze M; Clare AS. 2009. In situ imaging of barnacle (Balanus amphitrite) cyprid cement using confocal raman microscopy. The Journal of Adhesion. 85(2 & 3): 139 - 151.

Larvae adhere temporarily underwater: barnacles

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