Bio-Inspired Structural Colors Produced via Self-Assembly of Synthetic Melanin Nanoparticles.
Structural colors arising from interactions of light with submicron scale periodic structures have been found in many species across all taxa, serving multiple biological functions including sexual signaling, camouflage, and aposematism. Directly inspired by the extensive use of self-assembled melanosomes to produce colors in avian feathers, we set out to synthesize and assemble polydopamine-based synthetic melanin nanoparticles in an effort to fabricate colored films. We have quantitatively demonstrated that synthetic melanin nanoparticles have a high refractive index and broad absorption spanning across the UV-visible range, similar to natural melanins. Utilizing a thin-film interference model, we demonstrated the coloration mechanism of deposited films and showed that the unique optical properties of synthetic melanin nanoparticles provide advantages for structural colors over other polymeric nanoparticles (i.e., polystyrene colloidal particles).
†Department of Polymer Science, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, United States.
Ming
M
Xiao
Yiwen
Y
Li
§Marine Biology Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States.
Michael C
MC
Allen
§Marine Biology Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States.
Dimitri D
DD
Deheyn
Xiujun
X
Yue
†Department of Polymer Science, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, United States.
Jiuzhou
J
Zhao
Nathan C
NC
Gianneschi
∥Department of Biology and Integrated Bioscience Program, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, United States.
Matthew D
MD
Shawkey
†Department of Polymer Science, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, United States.
Ali
A
Dhinojwala
D000818:Animals; D032701:Biomimetics / Q000379:methods*; D001717:Birds; D005241:Feathers; D007211:Indoles / Q000737:chemistry; D008543:Melanins / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010858:Pigmentation; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry
D007211:Indoles; D008543:Melanins; D011108:Polymers; C568283:polydopamine
bio-inspired; biomimicry; melanin; polydopamine; structural colors