Squids have tiny teeth of their suction cups – scientists could use their unique properties to create self-healing materials

When you’re thinking that of a fearsome predator with sharp teeth, an octopus might be not the primary animal that involves mind. But these complex creatures have excellent eyesight, a robust beak for breaking mussels and mobile tentacles that help them grab their prey.

Oh, they usually have teeth of their suction cups. serrated teeth within the suction cups of their tentacles enable them to cling to their prey.

While most hard tissues in animals are mineralized, and calcium strengthens their bones, shells, or teeth, the squid's sucker teeth are made from structural proteins as a substitute. Scientists don't really understand how these teeth are made.

By looking inside a squid sucker with an electron microscope, our team of scientists captured a picture showing the cellular tissue from which teeth grow. The cells within the inner partitions of the sucker secrete proteins that bind together to form complex tooth ring structures.

Highly effective proteins within the suckers of squid

Squid's sucker teeth have some extraordinary properties. They are immune to pressure, yet flexible and in a position to conform to the form of their prey. Our team's research seeks to grasp not only how these teeth are made, but additionally where their unique properties come from.

The teeth consist of a family of Structural proteinswhich have a mechanical slightly than a biological function. Examples include keratin, which makes up hair and nails, or silk, which supplies structure to spider webs and silkworm cocoons. In squid, these suckers catch and cling to prey.

Proteins are made up of amino acids arranged in a selected order, and this order determines their structure. The proteins of the suckers contain amino acids that form hard, tiny crystals in the fabric, called nanocrystals. These nanocrystals connect the protein strands in a network – much like knots in a fishing net.

These nanocrystals mix to form nanotubes contained in the material, which seem like tiny honeycomb structures. When we take a look at them through an electron microscope, we are able to see a tooth cut in half, revealing the complex internal structure with long but tiny nanotubes. Thanks to those nanostructures, the teeth comprised of squid protein are so strong, tough and versatile that they outperform many manmade polymers and modern materials.

New materials inspired by octopuses

Scientists and engineers can take inspiration from biology and use unique natural structures to model and develop latest materials. For example, the teeth of squid suckers have inspired the event of self-healing materials who can repair their cuts, holes or scratches themselves.

The nanocrystals that hold the proteins of squid teeth together can reform after they break. Materials created in our lab inspired by squid nanocrystals may lead to: self-repairing medical devices or robotsThese materials would last more and require less maintenance, which can be useful in hazardous environments or within the human body.

These octopus-inspired materials could also assemble and disassemble themselves. Materials with this property could recycled or dismantled without leaving any waste behind. This material would subsequently be a promising bio-based alternative to single-use plastic.