MAlberic 16fev2024

PCM Seminar - Marie ALBERICVendredi, 10h30 - Salle S001 / IPREM1

Le 16 févr. 2024 à 10h30

Dr Marie ALBERIC

Chargé Recherche
Laboratoire Chimie Matière Condensée de Paris / Sorbonne Université

"Bio-sourced hybrid pigments inspired by biomineralization and pigmentation mechanisms in sea urchins"

Abstract :
The colorful biomineralization of sea urchins towards the development of bio-inspired hybrid pigments
 
The marine world is an infinite source of inspiration. In this seminar, I will particularly foccus on sea urchins, which already inspired the development of buildings, cements and glues due to the remarkable micro-structure of their mineralized skeletons, the hierarchical nano-composite structure of their spines and the adhesive properties of their podia. In addition, sea urchin spines present a wide range of intense, homogeneous and long-lasting colors due to the encapsulation of organic pigment molecules (polyhydroxylated naphthoquinones) within their mineral matrix composed of calcium carbonate. Thus, sea urchins produce colorful organic-inorganic hybrid materials that result from biological processes, namely biomineralization and pigmentation. Biomineralization is the formation of minerals by organisms which occurs, in the case of sea urchins, through amorphous calcium carbonate precursors and simultaneously with pigmentation, that is, the coloring of biological tissues. In this seminar, I will present my research on biomineralization and pigmentation processes in sea urchin spines as well as on their potential to inspire the development of bio-sourced and hybrid pigments devoted to sustainable coloring.