Researchers Harness Squid Skin Cells to Create Advanced Prosthetics

Researchers at the University of California, Irvine, have made a significant breakthrough by using mammalian cells to replicate squid skin cells’ unique camouflage properties. Their research and experimentation could lead to more effective prosthetics and a better understanding of cephalopod biology.

Squid Skin Camouflage Properties

Squids and octopuses evade predators or surprise potential prey by blending into their surroundings using their unique ability to change coloration and become transparent. Researchers at UC Irvine aimed to understand the mechanisms behind cephalopod’s innate camouflage abilities.

Mammalian Cells Replicated Squid Skin Cells

One significant obstacle that researchers faced was culturing squid skin cells in the laboratory. To tackle this problem, researchers replicated the properties of squid skin cells in mammalian (human) cells in the lab.

Leucophores and Unique Optical Properties

Alon Gorodetsky, a researcher at UC Irvine, is particularly interested in the layer of cells in cephalopod skin called leucophores, which scatter the full spectrum of light. The leucophores generate unique optical properties in squid skin by allowing light through with little scattering to make them more transparent or becoming more opaque and apparent by scattering more light.

Structural Color

The research focuses on how the iridophores, chromatophores, and leucophores work together to create the unique optical properties of squid skin. Iridophores are an example of structural color, similar to the crystals found in a butterfly’s wings, that can reflect different wavelengths of light.

Pioneering Artificial Skin Inspired by Squid Skin

Inspired by cephalopods’ color-changing ability, a photonic-ionic system-based artificial skin (eskin) has been developed. This breakthrough technology possesses physical characteristics like that of squid skin, including high flexibility and extreme temperature resistance. Additionally, the integration of monoglyceride laurate molecules gives the eskin antibacterial properties capable of killing almost all gram-positive bacteria and fungi – making it potentially useful for prosthetic development.

Wearable Device Capabilities

The eskin’s dual-signal output enables it to output optical and electrical signals simultaneously. It can recognize different environmental stimuli and distinguish between various tactile stimuli with initial evaluation results being highly promising. The eskin could be used in wearable devices, soft robots, e-prosthetic limbs, and human-computer interface devices.

Further Research and Real-World Applications

Researchers plan to explore the biological structure of other species to develop corresponding biomimetic skins that leverage these creatures’ unique abilities for real-world applications in interactive sensing, wearable devices, and other fields.

In conclusion, UC Irvine researchers’ breakthrough has extended our understanding of cephalopod biology and led to the development of a photonic-ionic system-based artificial skin inspired by the color-changing ability of squid skin. This new technology could prove vital to developing better prosthetics and allow for exceptional advancements in multiple fields like healthcare and robotics.

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons