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Structural and Initial Optical Characterization of Basalia Spicules in the Glass Sponge Euplectella

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 February 2011

Vikram C. Sundar ,
John Grazul  and
Joanna Aizenberg
Vikram C. Sundar
Affiliation:
Bell Laboratories/Lucent Technologies, 600 Mountain Ave, Murray Hill, NJ 07974.
John Grazul
Affiliation:
Bell Laboratories/Lucent Technologies, 600 Mountain Ave, Murray Hill, NJ 07974.
Joanna Aizenberg*
Affiliation:
Bell Laboratories/Lucent Technologies, 600 Mountain Ave, Murray Hill, NJ 07974.
*
*to whom correspondences should be addressed: jaizenberg@lucent.com.
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Abstract

We report on the structural properties of siliceous spicules, found in the hexactinellid sponge Euplectella. Selective chemical etching of Euplectella spicules in bleach reveals the presence of a striated arrangement of silica spheres (∼50-200 nm in diameter) placed radially around a central, high-organic content cylindrical region. Complementary etching experiments with HF indicate a graded variation of silica content in these shells. The presence of such a multi-layered and variable-composition structure affords these spicules not only with enhanced structural integrity but could also be reflected in their optical properties. Qualitative, index-matched, refractive index measurements are shown to support this expectation.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 774: Symposium O – Materials Inspired by Biology , 2003 , O4.3
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2003

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