# Role of Invertebrate Biological Origin in Chitin Nanocrystal’s Morphology, Chirality, and Self-Assembly

## TL;DR

This paper compares chitin structures in arthropods and bryozoans, revealing unique spiderweb-like nanofiber arrangements in bryozoans that could inspire new materials.

## Contribution

The study reveals a novel spiderweb-like chitin architecture in bryozoans, distinct from the Bouligand structure in arthropods.

## Key findings

- Bryozoa chitin nanofibers have a spiderweb-like arrangement and smaller diameters compared to arthropods.
- Bryozoan chitin nanocrystals are shorter and do not form a chiral nematic phase under the studied conditions.
- The unique bryozoan chitin nanoarchitecture offers potential for advanced material applications.

## Abstract

The mention of chitin
often evokes the Bouligand structure, which
is a unique twisted configuration featuring a uniaxial planar organization
of fibers. Although a large number of studies focused on Arthropoda,
the architecture of chitin in many other invertebrate phyla remains
largely unexplored. Herein, we unveil the distinctive architectures
of chitin in both Arthropoda and Bryozoa, offering a comparative analysis
of the morphological properties of native fibers and chitin nanocrystals
sourced from these divergent organisms. In stark contrast to the Bouligand
architecture prevalent in Arthropoda, Bryozoa exhibits a unique spiderweb-like
arrangement of nanobundle structures, exclusive to this animal group.
Bryozoan chitin nanofibers have a diameter smaller than those found
among arthropods. After acid hydrolysis, the bryozoan nanocrystals
are shorter and have a diameter smaller than those from arthropods.
Although the chitin nanocrystals formed the chiral nematic phase,
in the current study with the applied methodology, this was not the
case with chitin nanocrystals from the studied bryozoan species. The
unique chitin nanoarchitecture observed in Bryozoa could serve as
an inspiration to produce advanced materials. Their smaller chitin
nanocrystals can serve as a potential alternative to those of arthropods.