Figure 4: SEM imagery of replicas made with chitosan (5% w/v) and chitosan (5% w/v) and alginate (2% w/v) in 2 different aspects and magnifications, as well as attempts by living Lactobacillus bacteria to colonise the spinulated surface. | Scientific Reports

Figure 4: SEM imagery of replicas made with chitosan (5% w/v) and chitosan (5% w/v) and alginate (2% w/v) in 2 different aspects and magnifications, as well as attempts by living Lactobacillus bacteria to colonise the spinulated surface.

From: High Quality Bioreplication of Intricate Nanostructures from a Fragile Gecko Skin Surface with Bactericidal Properties

Figure 4

Infact, the bacteria are shown to be eviscertaed leaving only smeared deposits (white asterix) covering the spinules (white arrow); In (A) the chitosan spinules were curved naturally. Furthermore, the spinules were softer and more flexible than polystyrene duplicates; (B) a higher resolution SEM image of the chitosan spinules in an array to focus on the shape of spinules more clearly; (C) Bacteria smeared over the spinules following rupture by the tips; (D,E) SEM imagery of replicas made with a bilayer of chitosan (5% w/v) and alginate (2% w/v) polyelectrolytes. The basal layer is formed by neutralized chitosan and the spinule protuberances were formed by calcium crosslinked (gelled) alginate (the reverse was also carried out with identical results). The curled tips formed after in-situ gelling of the biopolymer substrates. In contrast to the polystyrene spinules, spinules made from polysaccharide materials (in a dehydrated state) matched the tip curvature of native spinules more closely; (F) Bacteria grown on top of alginate-made spinules after 7 days led to more ruptured bacteria detritus (white asterix) covering the spinules (white arrows).

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