Articles tagged with Chitin
Researchers have developed a biointegrated material that resists hydration and increases in strength to values above commodity plastics when wet. The process does not alter the biological nature of chitosan, enabling seamless reintegration into natural ecological cycles.
Researchers developed a chitin-based carbon aerogel to stabilize phase change materials and improve their performance for energy applications. The material achieved high thermal storage density, durability, and improved thermal conductivity compared to pure stearic acid.
Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a system that actively removes microplastics from water in a single cycle. The microcleaners, made from biodegradable materials, use the Marangoni effect to self-disperse and capture microplastics, which are then collected by skimming.
Researchers at Singapore University of Technology and Design have discovered how to produce sustainable colors using beetles that live in the dark. By understanding how these beetles' exoskeletons reflect light, scientists can create environmentally friendly materials for various industries. This breakthrough has significant implicatio...
UConn researchers have developed a method to sustainably recover chitin, the second most abundant biological polymer on Earth, from seafood waste using natural chemicals. The process creates a viscous solution called ternary deep eutectic solvents (TDESs) that selectively extracts chitin, leaving behind unwanted components.
Researchers have successfully transformed black soldier fly carcasses into degradable plastics through a process of extraction and purification. The resulting bioplastics can absorb water and potentially address drought situations, making them a promising solution for sustainable agriculture.
Researchers develop energy-efficient chitinous films that can generate mechanical movement and produce electricity without external power. The films exhibit adaptability and molecular changes in response to environmental changes, enabling applications in engineering and biomedical fields.
A new study proposes that ancestors of Prochlorococcus microbes used chitin particles as rafts to venture into the open ocean. This enabled them to evolve new abilities and eventually thrive in the nutrient-poor waters, playing a crucial role in absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere.
Consuming insects like crickets can contribute to healthy gut microbiota and provide essential nutrients. Research by CSU professor Tiffany Weir and colleagues highlights the potential benefits of edible insects on human health, including increased prebiotic effects and reduced intestinal inflammation.
Scientists create zinc battery with chitosan-based biodegradable electrolyte, reducing environmental burden. The new battery stores power from large-scale wind and solar sources, uses abundant zinc, and can be broken down by microbes, making it a viable option for sustainable energy storage.
Researchers at Washington State University have developed a novel additive that significantly strengthens cement paste, increasing its strength by up to 40% while delaying set time. This innovation could lead to reduced seafood waste and lower carbon emissions from concrete production.
Researchers at the University of the Basque Country have developed a nasal plug using soy protein and chitin from food industry waste, which promotes haemostasis and is biocompatible. The new material has shown superior mechanical and haemostatic properties compared to current gold standard nasal plugs.
A team of researchers from the University of Cologne identified a possible key enzyme that enables algae-eating protists to dissolve algal cell walls. The study, published in Current Biology, reveals new insights into the molecular toolkit used by these organisms to interact with their prey.
Researchers have created a novel sorbent that effectively removes copper and zinc from water solutions, with the ability to be reused for efficient treatment of industrial wastewater and drinking water. The sorbent's adsorption properties were enhanced through modification, allowing for up to 60% removal of heavy metals within minutes.
Researchers have identified a previously unknown bacterial enzyme that can produce a new type of biodegradable polysaccharide called acholetin. Acholetin has wide-ranging potential as a biocompatible, biodegradable material for biomedical applications.
A new study reveals that animals use cheap tissues like chitin to build their weapons, allowing them to deceive opponents and gain advantages in battles. This tactic is used by species such as snapping shrimps and fiddler crabs, which can exaggerate their size and strength through clever deception.
Scientists discovered that fungal endophytes convert chitin to chitosan, a natural plant defense activator, to evade host defense. This conversion enables the fungus to live in symbiotic association with grasses, protecting them from biotic and abiotic stresses.
Researchers from Osaka University developed a nanocarbon material made from crab shells suitable for use in photosensing and energy storage devices. The material was created through simple pyrolysis of chitin nanofiber paper, demonstrating a sustainable and efficient method for producing renewable electronics.
Researchers from RUDN University have synthesized new chitin-based antibiotics with enhanced antibacterial activity, outperforming existing compounds like ampicillin and gentamicin. The newly created substances also exhibit non-toxicity and potential as catalysts in organic synthesis.
Chemists from RUDN University synthesized biopolymers based on chitin from crab shells, forming effective catalysts for organic reactions. The new catalysts can be reused over ten times without reducing yield or damaging nanoparticles.
Researchers have developed a simple manufacturing technology using chitin, a ubiquitous organic polymer, to build tools and shelters on Mars. This approach enables the rapid manufacturing of objects ranging from basic tools to rigid shelters, which could support humans in a Martian environment.
Engineers produce high-impact multilayered coatings using chitin from shrimp, mushrooms, and other organisms, which can protect against bullets, lasers, toxic gas, and other dangers. The coatings aim to be biodegradable by design, reducing environmental impact.
Researchers at NTU Singapore have developed a green method to create chitin, using two forms of food waste - prawn shells and discarded fruit - and fermenting them. The new process is more sustainable than current approaches, reducing energy consumption and chemical by-products.
Researchers at SUTD develop bioplastic production process using urban waste and bio-inspired engineering, enabling global adoption of sustainable manufacturing. The process reduces energy requirements and transportation costs, using abundant biological polymers like chitin and cellulose.
A fungal pathogen, Cryptococcus neoformans, has been found to use an enzyme called chitosan deacetylase to alter its cell wall structure, making it invisible to the human immune system. Researchers have identified a new chitosan deacetylase that is crucial for the fungus's ability to evade detection.
Scientists develop new bio-based material combining chitin nanoparticles and alginate for antimicrobial properties and flexibility. The material has potential uses in surgical threads, tissue engineering, wound healing, and burn treatments.
Scientists at the University of Münster have developed a vaccine-like treatment that stimulates plants' natural immune system using a specific pattern in chitosan, a biopolymer. This breakthrough could lead to reduced chemical pesticide use and improved plant growth, as well as potential applications in scar-free wound healing.
Researchers created biocompatible structures on the basis of chitin obtained from crab shells through mechanochemical synthesis. The resulting structures can be used to replace damaged soft tissues in the human body, and have been shown to be biodegradable and non-toxic.
Researchers discovered the lobster membrane is surprisingly tough and stretchy, making it a potential guide for designing flexible body armor. The membrane's layered structure, similar to plywood, provides exceptional strength and resistance to scratches and cuts, outperforming industrial rubber composites.
Researchers discovered Serratia marcescens chitinase A (SmChiA) as a molecular motor that converts energy into unidirectional mechanical motion. It hydrolyzes recalcitrant crystalline chitin to form a water-soluble disaccharide, exhibiting fast and efficient degradation.
A team of researchers has discovered a novel colour-generation mechanism in the 'rainbow' weevil, which could lead to the creation of cosmetics with purer hues and digital displays with true colours from any angle. The mechanism is composed of three-dimensional crystalline structures made from chitin that control both size and volume f...
Researchers mapped the evolutionary journey of animal guts to defend against microbial attack. They discovered that tunicates, a simple animal related to vertebrates, had an intermediate gut lining with both chitin and mucous coexisting. This finding suggests a missing link between invertebrate and mammalian gut defenses.
Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology have created a material derived from crab shells and tree fibers that can replace flexible plastic packaging. The new material shows up to a 67% reduction in oxygen permeability compared to traditional PET packaging, making it a promising alternative for food preservation.
Researchers used CRISPR/Cas9 to tweak wing colors of the squinting bush brown butterfly, resulting in changes to scale structure and rigidity. The study reveals that pigmentation genes have dual roles in forming wing scales.
Researchers found distinct protein structures and varying chitin ratios in cicada wings compared to locust wings. This difference may contribute to cicadas' relatively heavy wings, limiting their flight distances.
Researchers at UCSF discovered a specialized enzyme that destroys chitin, a tough natural material found in the environment, which accumulates in the lungs and triggers inflammatory lung disease. Mice with this enzyme deficiency developed severe lung disease, but restoring its activity cleared up symptoms.
Researchers at MIPT have developed a new technique for producing low molecular weight water-soluble chitin and chitosan. The method uses an electron-beam plasma reactor, which reduces production time from days to minutes and is environmentally friendly.
The Venus flytrap's carnivorous lifestyle is built on herbivore defense strategies, utilizing sensory hairs to capture prey. The plant's genes show a mix of leaf and root characteristics, with glands that supply digestive enzymes and nutrients.
Chitosan and chitin have been proven as effective, eco-friendly, and cost-effective alternatives to bentonite and STABIFIX in clarifying beer. They reduce turbidity by up to 160 times, decreasing flocculation time and production costs.
Researchers at Benaroya Research Institute have discovered that chitin, previously thought to be absent in vertebrates, is endogenously produced in fishes and amphibians. This finding challenges longstanding biological assumptions and opens up new avenues for biomedical applications.
Researchers discovered that beetle scales scatter light efficiently to achieve ultra-whiteness, using a complex network of chitin filaments. This finding could lead to brighter, whiter materials for paper, plastics, and paints while reducing material usage.
Researchers found that combining a deacetyl chitin conduit with short-term electrical stimulation promotes better peripheral nerve repair. The treatment showed improved nerve conduction velocity, myelination, and axon diameter compared to non-stimulation group.
Researchers have discovered that chitin microparticles from crab shells can reduce inflammation in animal models and improve symptoms associated with IBD. The findings could lead to the development of novel preventive and therapeutic strategies for this chronic disease.
Researchers at Scripps Research Institute have devised an inexpensive and sensitive method to mark and select cells. The technique utilizes the tight binding of two proteins that are cheaply obtainable but not found in human or other mammalian cells, enabling efficient cell sorting with minimal unwanted side effects.
Research at CARB has shown that plants use protein receptors to detect modified Nod factors, leading to root nodule development and nitrogen production. Legumes employ a sophisticated detection system to distinguish between pathogenic and beneficial microorganisms.
The dragonfly wing's microstructure plays a crucial role in its biomechanical responses, enabling self-adaptability in flapping, torsion, and camber variations. The organic junction between veins and membranes optimizes strength, stiffness, and toughness.
Researchers have developed a procedure using chitosan to create surgical materials with antimicrobial and healing properties, which remained unmodified after sterilization. Additionally, chitosan was found to be a natural bio-stimulant that boosts tomato seed germination and plant growth.
Researchers at Penn State developed a novel approach to extend the life of marine microbial fuel cells by providing bacteria with chitin, found in crustacean shells. The addition increased power production and allowed for longer-term remote operation, making it suitable for ocean sediments.
UCSF scientists have discovered that chitin triggers an allergic inflammatory response in the lungs of mice, leading to increased production of the anti-chitin enzyme. The researchers suggest that people with less-effective versions of this enzyme may be more prone to asthma due to their inability to control exposure to inhaled chitin.
Researchers have identified two chitin deacetylase genes as controlling tracheal tube length in Drosophila. These enzymes modify the chitinous mandrel to instruct termination of tube elongation, suggesting a mechanistic model for size regulation.
Researchers discovered a new protein, CBP21, that speeds up chitin degradation by breaking down its structure. This discovery has potential applications in combating fungi and producing biofuels.
Researchers analyzed six mushroom varieties and plum/prune products for their carbohydrate profiles, revealing high levels of dietary fibers, oligosaccharides, and nutrients. Cooking increased starch, total dietary fibers, and fat content in mushrooms, while raw forms retained higher levels of chitin and beta-glucan.
Asthma researchers at Yale discovered a new protein, AMCase, that contributes to inflammation in the airways. Blocking this protein may provide relief for humans with asthma, but its mechanism of action is not yet fully understood.
Researchers identified a genetic master switch that controls bacterial consumption of chitin, a key component of ocean debris. The discovery sheds light on the process by which bacteria break down tough material and turn it into food, preserving ecological balance in the ocean.
UD and Lincoln University researchers investigate the break-down of carbon in coastal waters by studying chitin degradation, which could help predict atmospheric carbon levels. The study aims to better understand the role of biology in global climate change.