Skin resists microorganisms: pilot whale

The skin of pilot whales resists microorganisms thanks to microscopic pores and nanoridges, surrounded by a secreted enzymatic gel which denatures proteins and carbohydrates.

Biomimicry Taxonomy

	Maintain physical integrity >
	Protect from biotic factors >
	Microbes

Biomimetic Application Ideas

Anti-fouling paints and other coatings.

[Collapse all sections] Summary

"Christoph Baums and a team from the Hanover School of Veterinary Medicine in Germany have discovered that a pilot whale's skin has a specialised nano-structure that stops the build-up of microscopic organisms such as barnacle larvae. They plan to mimic the idea in an anti-fouling paint. Baums and his team examined freeze-dried samples of pilot whale skin under a cryo-scanning electron microscope. They discovered a surface made up of tiny pores 0.1 micrometres across surrounded by raised 'nanoridges'. In between the ridges is a rubber-like gel containing enzymes that denature proteins and carbohydrates. The gel, which oozes out of the gaps between skin cells, is replenished as the whale sheds its skin. Baums thinks that organisms such as bacteria and diatoms have trouble sticking to the ridge edges, which provide little purchase. And if they try hanging onto the gel the enzymes will attack them. Without these pioneers, larger creatures such as crustacean or mollusc larvae have a hard time colonising the whale's skin. The group intends to patent a version of the pilot whale's skin as a more eco-friendly alternative to existing anti-fouling paints. To copy the skin, Baums plans on using a variety of biodegradable materials." (Courtesy of the Biomimicry Guild)

About the inspiring organism

long-finned pilot whale
Globicephala melas (Traill, 1809)
[Long-finned pilot whale]

Some organism data provided by: ITIS: The Integrated Taxonomic Information System
Organism/taxonomy data provided by:
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2008 Annual Checklist

Bioinspired products and application ideas

Application Ideas: Anti-fouling paints and other coatings.

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Manufacturing

Experts

Institute for Microbiology
Christoph Baums
Department of Infectious Diseases, Royal School of Equine Medicine, the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation (TiHo)

Skin resists microorganisms: pilot whale

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