Insect wings inspire scientists to design antimicrobial surfaces

Mohammed Shaban

Despite its diminishing size, the Kingdom of Insects continues to give us examples and give science ideas to simulate or use them in confronting problems of reality. From a taxonomic point of view, scientists rely on mutations of insect wings and the diversity of their forms to classify the ranks of different insects.

Its wings also have many functions, including regulating the insect's temperature, sound and flying, but these wings still hold many secrets, one of which was revealed in a new study and clarified the mechanism carried by those wings, which enables them to kill bacteria.

Bacterial nanoparticles
Some wings of insects, such as dragonflies and cicadas, have nanostructures that kill bacteria, but we do not yet know the exact mechanism that these wings cause to kill bacteria.

Recently, scientists from the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom used a set of advanced imaging tools, functional exams and other protein tests, in an attempt to understand that mechanism.

In its research, published in the journal Nature Communications on April 2, the team identified new methods that nanostructures in insect wings volunteered to kill bacteria, which could help design anti-microbial surfaces that could be used in a number of medical applications such as implants. Medical devices that are free of antibiotics.

Dr. Bo Sue, professor of biomedical materials at the University of Bristol’s School of Dentistry and author of this study, explains the mechanism discovered by the site "Eurek Albert" saying, "We sought in this research to understand the mechanism that enables nanostructures in insect wings to exterminate germs."

"We previously believed that these nanostructures punctured bacterial cells, causing bacteria to degrade and die, but our current study showed that these nanostructures have multifactorial effects that depend on the type of insect and its nanoparticle topography."

A new mechanism for killing bacteria
It is known that the strength of bacteria adherence to the nanoparticle topography of the insect wing is one of the factors affecting the death of bacteria, and the stiffness of the bacterial cell membrane may protect it from rupture, so we find that the gram-negative bacteria membrane is more sensitive to rupture than it is in the Gram-positive bacteria with the thicker membrane .

"We have found that these nanostructures have anti-bacterial properties, in addition to the puncture and deformation of the bacterial cell membrane, especially Gram-negative bacteria. Among these discovered properties is the cumulative effect of those nanostructures that result from bacterial disability and stimulation of oxidative stress."

Despite the puncture caused by these nanostructures to the bacterial cell membrane, these mechanisms did not lead to any mechanical rupture or cell degradation. On the contrary, the topography of the insect's wing hampered the bacteria, which helped inhibit the ability of bacteria to grow on these nanostructures .

This study also presented new evidence of the ability of nanoparticles to stimulate oxidative stress in bacteria cells upon contact, and ultimately the cumulative effects of previous mechanisms weaken the growth of bacteria and the formation of biofilms.

Future prospects
On the prospects for this study, Sue comments, "We expect to see wide-ranging results for this study, as we were able to understand the mechanism by which insect wings damage bacteria."

"Then comes the next step, which is to design nanostructures with anti-bacterial properties. In addition, we will be interested in studying how the stem cells respond to these nanostructures, so as to develop medical implants that can integrate with the body's tissues without any bacterial infection."