About this Research Topic
Apart from the fruit fly bristles, the morphogenesis of integumentary nanostructures remains a vast and unexplored field. For decades, biologists compiled data about the nature of integumentary nanostructures, their diversity, and their associated function such as wettability, thermoresistance, elasticity or stiffness. All these properties are finely tuned, across nano to micron length scales in various tissues, by the underlying cells that produce biomaterials. Material properties are controlled and changed by small changes to the amount or composition of biomolecules (polysaccharides, proteins and water) or their organization. However, how organisms exert precise nanometer control over tissue morphology and composition to produce different nanostructures and biomaterials of various properties remains understudied. The need to identify the genetics, physics, and developmental processes that govern biomaterial organization and structure is especially important today where there is an increasing need for bio-inspired, sustainable material alternatives in manufacturing. With this collection of research articles, we aim to further our understanding of the genes and developmental processes used by biological systems to craft surface nanostructures through control of biomaterial properties.
In this Research Topic, we are looking for research articles that address the genetics or developmental processes regulating integumentary, biopolymeric nanostructures in diverse organisms, including animals, plants, fungi, and bacteria. Research areas range from experimental approaches (for example, functional cell developmental biology, genetics, genomics) to theoretical approaches (for example, modelling in photonics, cell mechanics, thermodynamics of phase separation). Examples would include studies proposing theoretical models of nanostructure development, models looking at how compositional variation affects structure and biomechanics of the tissue or, genomic studies identifying loci controlling differences in biomaterial structure/properties across tissues. Developmental studies would include research addressing how nanostructures develop over time or identify causative genes involved in biomaterial structuring or determining material properties. Eco-evo-devo approaches that link development and environmental factors are also welcome.
Keywords: biophotonics, structural colors, integument, cuticle, cell wall, structures, biomechanics, hierarchical organization, chitin, cellulose, keratin, cell shape and polarity, cytoskeleton dynamics, self-assembly
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.