The discovery of the remarkable properties of velvet worm slime has sent shockwaves through the scientific community, offering new hope for sustainable material design. Researchers from McGill University have made a groundbreaking find that could lead to the development of next-generation recyclable bioplastics.

Velvet worms, small caterpillar-like creatures found in humid forests of the southern hemisphere, possess an extraordinary ability – their slime can transform from liquid to fibre and back again. This remarkable property has puzzled scientists for centuries, but a team led by Matthew Harrington, a chemistry professor and Canada Research Chair in green chemistry, has finally decoded the molecular structure behind this phenomenon.

Using protein sequencing and AI-driven structure prediction (AlphaFold), the researchers identified previously unknown proteins in the slime that function similarly to cell receptors in the immune system. These receptor proteins appear to link large structural proteins during fibre formation, enabling the slime’s remarkable reversibility.

The implications of this discovery are profound. Traditional plastics and synthetic fibres require energy-intensive processes to manufacture and recycle, often involving heat or chemical treatments. In contrast, the velvet worm uses simple mechanical forces – pulling and stretching – to generate strong, durable fibres from biorenewable precursors, which can later be dissolved and reused without harmful byproducts.

While a plastic bottle that dissolves in water may seem like an impractical solution, Harrington believes that adjusting the chemistry of this binding mechanism could overcome this limitation. The team’s next challenge will be to experimentally verify the binding interactions and explore whether the principle can be adapted for engineered materials.

The study was co-authored by researchers from McGill University and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore, highlighting the importance of international collaboration in addressing pressing global challenges.

As Harrington aptly puts it, “Nature has already figured out a way to make materials that are both strong and recyclable. By decoding the molecular structure of velvet worm slime, we’re now one step closer to replicating that efficiency for the materials we use every day.”

Unveiling the Mystery of Crystals: Scientists Discover a New Type and Shed Light on Their Formation

Crystals have long been a subject of fascination, from the intricate beauty of snowflakes to the durability of diamonds. However, their growth process has remained somewhat mysterious, with scientists once thinking that they always formed in a straightforward way. A new study published in Nature Communications has shed light on this process and led to an unexpected discovery – a new type of crystal.

Researchers at New York University (NYU) have been exploring how crystals form through experiments and computer simulations. They used colloidal particles, tiny spheres much larger than atoms, to observe the crystallization process at a single-particle level. This allowed them to study the formation of crystals in a way that was previously difficult or impossible.

“The advantage of studying colloidal particles is that we can observe crystallization processes at a single-particle level,” said Stefano Sacanna, professor of chemistry at NYU. “With colloids, we can watch crystals form with our microscope.”

The researchers conducted experiments to carefully observe how charged colloidal particles behave in different growth conditions as they transition from salt water suspensions to fully formed crystals. They also ran thousands of computer simulations led by Glen Hocky, assistant professor of chemistry at NYU, to model how crystals grow and help explain what they observed.

The team determined that colloidal crystals form through a two-step process: amorphous blobs of particles first condense before transforming into ordered crystal structures. This process resulted in a diverse array of crystal types and shapes.

During these experiments, PhD student Shihao Zang came across a rod-shaped crystal that he couldn’t identify. Despite comparing it to more than a thousand crystals found in the natural world, he still couldn’t find a match. However, through computer modeling, the researchers simulated a crystal that was exactly the same, enabling them to study its elongated, hollow shape in even greater detail.

The newly discovered crystal, named Zangenite after the PhD student who discovered it, has hollow channels running along its length. This unique structure creates an opportunity to explore uses for low-density crystals and may pave the way for finding additional new crystals.

“We study colloidal crystals to mimic the real world of atomic crystals, but we never imagined that we would discover a crystal that we cannot find in the real world,” said Zang.

The discovery of Zangenite has significant implications for the development of new materials, including photonic bandgap materials. These materials are foundational for lasers, fiber-optic cables, solar panels, and other technologies that transmit or harvest light.

The study’s authors include Sanjib Paul, Cheuk Leung, Michael Chen, and Theodore Hueckel. The research was supported by the US Army Research Office, the Simons Center for Computational Physical Chemistry at NYU, and the National Institutes of Health.

The medical community has made significant strides in understanding the complexities of the human body. Researchers at the University of California San Diego and Northwestern University have developed an innovative therapy that can be injected intravenously after a heart attack to encourage tissue repair and prevent heart failure. This groundbreaking approach aims to intervene early, potentially keeping patients from ultimately going into heart failure.

The research team, led by bioengineers and chemists, published their findings in the April 25 issue of Advanced Materials. They demonstrated that this therapy is effective up to five weeks after injection in rat models. The protein-like polymer (PLP) platform mimics a key protein called Nrf2, which cells rely on to resist degradation brought on by inflammation.

After a heart attack, the interaction between two proteins – Nrf2 and KEAP1 – must be blocked for tissues to heal properly. When KEAP1 binds with Nrf2, it degrades the latter, hindering tissue repair. By injecting the PLP platform intravenously, researchers can prevent this degradation process, allowing cells to function normally.

The rat models injected with the PLP platform showed better cardiac function and significantly more healing in their heart muscle tissue compared to those receiving a saline solution. Other tests also revealed that genes promoting tissue healing were expressed more in the treated animals.

Researchers describe this study as a proof of concept, aiming to optimize the design and dosage before moving on to larger mammal trials. This therapy has the potential for broader applications beyond heart attacks, addressing diseases such as macular degeneration, multiple sclerosis, and kidney disease.

The innovative PLP platform could transform the treatment landscape by providing an effective solution for a critical clinical need – preventing heart failure after a heart attack. This breakthrough demonstrates the power of interdisciplinary research in tackling complex medical challenges.

Sources:

* Gianneschi, N., et al. (2023). A protein-like polymer platform to intervene with KEAP1-Nrf2 interactions promotes cardiac repair and function in a rat model of myocardial infarction. Advanced Materials, 35(14), e2205550.
* National Institutes of Health National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) research grants 2R01HL139001, R00 CA248715.