Biomimetics and bioinspired surfaces: from nature to theory and applications

• Rhainer Guillermo Ferreira,
• Thies H. Büscher,
• Manuela Rebora,
• Poramate Manoonpong,
• Zhendong Dai and
• Stanislav N. Gorb

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 418–421, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.32

• technology and new insights into the future of this field of research. Striking advance has been made regarding the study of surfaces on biological models, especially insects. For instance, insect attachment devices and adhesive secretions were thoroughly studied regarding the impact of contamination [2] and

The effect of age on the attachment ability of stick insects (Phasmatodea)

• Marie Grote,
• Stanislav N. Gorb and
• Thies H. Büscher

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 867–883, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.72

• tests, all p < 0.360) and from week 2 to weeks 4–6 (Tukey’s tests, all p < 0.044) were significant. The traction forces of the remaining combinations did not differ significantly from each other (Tukey’s tests, all p > 0.06). Morphological changes Macroscopic changes of attachment devices All tarsi of S

• polyneopteran insects [30][85]. Dening et al. [43] showed that the inflation degree of attachment devices in different animals and artificial attachment devices can play a role in the adhesion control. High pressure within the pad reduced the contact area with the substrate because of the curvature of the pad

Insect attachment on waxy plant surfaces: the effect of pad contamination by different waxes

• Elena V. Gorb and
• Stanislav N. Gorb

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 385–395, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.35

• tarsal attachment devices) are able to establish a highly reliable contact and adhere successfully to a great variety of substrates having both smooth and microrough topographies [1][2][3]. However, in cases of waxy plant surfaces, where the plant cuticle is covered by micro/nanoscopic three-dimensional

• ) were tested. Scanning electron microscopy To visualize the waxy plant surfaces and attachment devices in the C. fastuosa male beetle in both clean and contaminated conditions, scanning electron microscopy was employed. For plant surfaces, small (ca. 1 cm2) pieces of plant organs were used. In the case

Physical constraints lead to parallel evolution of micro- and nanostructures of animal adhesive pads: a review

• Thies H. Büscher and
• Stanislav N. Gorb

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2021, 12, 725–743, doi:10.3762/bjnano.12.57

• morphology of attachment devices is affected by physical constraints. This resulted in two main types of attachment devices in animals: hairy and smooth. They differ in morphology and ultrastructure but achieve mechanical adaptation to substrates with different roughness and maximise the actual contact area

• might be potentially interesting for engineers as a kind of optimal solution by nature, the biomimetic implications of the discussed results are briefly presented. Keywords: adhesion; attachment devices; biomechanics; convergence; friction; substrate compliance; Review Animal attachment systems

• surfaces in their natural environments shaped the morphology and function of the attachment devices of the animals. The characteristics of similar habitats resulted in similar selective pressures for various different animal groups. Attachment devices are omnipresent in animals (Figure 1), especially for

Biological and biomimetic surfaces: adhesion, friction and wetting phenomena

• Stanislav N. Gorb,
• Kerstin Koch and
• Lars Heepe

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2019, 10, 481–482, doi:10.3762/bjnano.10.48

• are devoted to surface-related effects in animal and plant surfaces, such as sandfish scales, wings of a ladybird beetle, tarsi of burying beetles, attachment devices of a sea star and a sea urchin, elytra of a backswimmer, leaves of an ice plant, and the wax layer of sacred lotus leaves. Seven of the

A comparison of tarsal morphology and traction force in the two burying beetles Nicrophorus nepalensis and Nicrophorus vespilloides (Coleoptera, Silphidae)

• Liesa Schnee,
• Benjamin Sampalla,
• Josef K. Müller and
• Oliver Betz

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2019, 10, 47–61, doi:10.3762/bjnano.10.5

• performed. The external morphology of the attachment devices investigated by scanning electron microscopy suggested higher intra-specific (intersexual) than inter-specific differences. Whereas differences between the two species in traction force were high on smooth surfaces, no differences could be

• the genus Nicrophorus have recently awakened the interest of scientists in the field of bioadhesion with regard to their tarsal secretion [2][3]. So far, the measurement of the physical strength and the description of the morphological traits of the attachment devices of various insects in the context

Review on nanoparticles and nanostructured materials: history, sources, toxicity and regulations

• Jaison Jeevanandam,
• Ahmed Barhoum,
• Yen S. Chan,
• Alain Dufresne and
• Michael K. Danquah

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2018, 9, 1050–1074, doi:10.3762/bjnano.9.98

• geckos with varying body weight can attach along ceilings and move along vertical walls. The interaction of their patterned surface structure with the substrate profile gives efficient ability and mechanism for attachment to the insect’s legs. An intense inverse scaling effect in these attachment devices

Influence of ambient humidity on the attachment ability of ladybird beetles (Coccinella septempunctata)

• Lars Heepe,
• Jonas O. Wolff and
• Stanislav N. Gorb

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2016, 7, 1322–1329, doi:10.3762/bjnano.7.123

• hairy attachment devices of C. septempunctata. The tarsus is composed of three tarsomeres and two ventrally curved claws (Figure 1B–D,H–J). Only the first two tarsomeres (T1 and T2 in Figure 1) are ventrally covered by tenent setae. Different types of tarsal adhesive setae were distinguished: (1) setae

• surface free energy should be performed in the future. Attachment devices of Coccinella septempuctata (A) attachment devices. Tarsi of forelegs (B), midlegs (C), and hindlegs (D) in females are ventrally covered by different types of tenent setae (E–G). Tarsi of forelegs (H), midlegs (I), and hindlegs (J

Functional diversity of resilin in Arthropoda

• Jan Michels,
• Esther Appel and
• Stanislav N. Gorb

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2016, 7, 1241–1259, doi:10.3762/bjnano.7.115

• the setal tips hydrated [48]. The presence of material gradients has also been demonstrated for smooth attachment devices of insects [23]. Interestingly, the gradients revealed in smooth adhesive pads of locusts and bush crickets differ from those existing in the adhesive tarsal setae described above

Aquatic versus terrestrial attachment: Water makes a difference

• Petra Ditsche and
• Adam P. Summers

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2014, 5, 2424–2439, doi:10.3762/bjnano.5.252

• change the surface topography [26]. Moreover, microorganisms can change the wettability of the substrates surface, which is probably the reason for a different response of some larvae to these surfaces [28]. Some examples of attachment forces for different animals and attachment devices are given in

• friction on smooth and most rough surfaces, can be found on the underside of the gill lamellae of some mayfly larvae [61] (Figure 6) and in torrent dwelling fishes. Suction The term sucker has been used for many attachment devices, so we want to clarify that we are just covering structures for which

• water make it harder to bring surfaces into close apposition. Most arthropods living in flowing water have well-developed tarsal claws, with which they hold onto rough surfaces [56]. These claws show a variety of different shapes and sizes (Figure 10) and are the most common attachment devices of

Insect attachment on crystalline bioinspired wax surfaces formed by alkanes of varying chain lengths

• Elena Gorb,
• Sandro Böhm,
• Nadine Jacky,
• Louis-Philippe Maier,
• Kirstin Dening,
• Sasha Pechook,
• Boaz Pokroy and
• Stanislav Gorb

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2014, 5, 1031–1041, doi:10.3762/bjnano.5.116

• thickness (b), mean roughness Ra (c), and root mean square of roughness r.m.s. (d). Lines indicate linear regressions. SEM micrographs of tarsal attachment devices in the male beetle Coccinella septempunctata: tarsus of the foreleg (a) and different types of tenent setae (b–e). Arrow in (a) shows the distal

Fibrillar adhesion with no clusterisation: Functional significance of material gradient along adhesive setae of insects

• Stanislav N. Gorb and
• Alexander E. Filippov

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2014, 5, 837–845, doi:10.3762/bjnano.5.95

• . This has been previously shown for insect cuticle [24][25], snake skin [26], human teeth [27][28], and other biological composites. The gradients have been also recently reported for smooth attachment devices of insects [29]. Interestingly, the gradients in smooth pads of locusts and bushcrickets are

Impact of cell shape in hierarchically structured plant surfaces on the attachment of male Colorado potato beetles (Leptinotarsa decemlineata)

• Bettina Prüm,
• Robin Seidel,
• Holger Florian Bohn and
• Thomas Speck

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2012, 3, 57–64, doi:10.3762/bjnano.3.7

• used as a model insect species. This leaf beetle has frequently been used as model insect species for traction experiments and its attachment devices have been well analysed [8][13][29][30]. The tarsus (Figure 3) consists of five tarsomeres, with tarsomeres 1–3 being covered with setae of four

• .: Vitis vinifera, Rosa: Rosa hybrid Floribunda cv. “Sarabande”. SEM micrographs of the attachment devices in a male Leptinotarsa decemlineata. (a) Ventral view of a hind leg; (b) claw tip; (c–f): Tarsal adhesive setae: (c) filamentous, (d) lanceolate, (e) spatula-shaped and (f) discoidal setae