Multifunctional biophotonic nanostructures inspired by the longtail glasswing butterfly for medical devices.

ABSTRACT: Numerous living organisms possess biophotonic nanostructures that provide colouration and other diverse functions for survival. While such structures have been actively studied and replicated in the laboratory, it remains unclear whether they can be used for biomedical applications. Here, we show a transparent photonic nanostructure inspired by the longtail glasswing butterfly (Chorinea faunus) and demonstrate its use in intraocular pressure (IOP) sensors in vivo. We exploit the phase separation between two immiscible polymers (poly(methyl methacrylate) and polystyrene) to form nanostructured features on top of a Si₃N₄ substrate. The membrane thus formed shows good angle-independent white-light transmission, strong hydrophilicity and anti-biofouling properties, which

SUBMITTER: Narasimhan V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5992053 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature