Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Fixed Action Patterns01:06

Fixed Action Patterns

A fixed action pattern (FAP) is a specific, hard-wired sequence of behaviors that occurs in response to an external stimulus, called a sign stimulus. The behavior is “fixed” because it is essentially unchangeable—proceeding similarly across individuals of a species every time it occurs.
Accessory Structures of the Skin: Hair and Hair Follicles01:16

Accessory Structures of the Skin: Hair and Hair Follicles

Hair and hair follicles are integral components of the integumentary system. Hair is a filamentous structure composed mainly of a protein called keratin. It is found on the surface of the skin throughout the body, except for areas such as the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
Hair is a keratinous filament growing out of the epidermis. It is primarily made of dead, keratinized cells. Hair strands originate at the epidermal penetration called the hair follicle. The hair shaft is the part...
Endospores and Sporulation01:20

Endospores and Sporulation

Endospores are specialized, dormant cells primarily formed by Gram-positive bacteria, including Bacillus and Clostridium, enabling survival under extreme environmental conditions. Due to their unique composition and formation process, these structures are highly resistant to physical and chemical insults, such as extreme heat, ultraviolet and ionizing radiation, desiccation, and toxic chemicals. Rare instances of endospore-like structures have also been observed in some Gram-negative bacteria,...
Renewal of Skin Epidermal Stem Cells01:12

Renewal of Skin Epidermal Stem Cells

The skin is divided into epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis, the skin's outermost, middle, and inner layers. The human epidermal layer regularly undergoes renewal, where old, dead cells are replaced by new cells. Epidermal stem cells or EpiSCs divide and differentiate to restore the lost cells. For the renewal process, some EpiSCs continuously self-renew. In contrast, few others differentiate into transit-amplifying cells, which later form prickle or spinous cells, followed by granular cells,...
The Skin Microbiota01:27

The Skin Microbiota

The human skin serves as a complex ecosystem inhabited by a diverse community of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses. This microbiome plays a critical role in maintaining skin health and defending against pathogenic invaders. The composition of microbial communities varies significantly across different regions of the body, influenced primarily by the local levels of moisture and sebum.Regional Variation in Skin MicrobiotaCutibacterium acnes predominantly colonizes sebaceous...
Surface Membrane Barriers01:18

Surface Membrane Barriers

The skin and mucous membranes serve as the primary line of defense against pathogens by providing both physical and chemical protection. These barriers are essential in preventing the entry and establishment of microbes, thereby maintaining the integrity of the host.
The outer layer of the skin, the epidermis, is a robust barrier comprising layers of closely packed keratinized cells. This dense arrangement prevents microbes from penetrating the body. The periodic shedding of epidermal cells...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Exploring the depth profile of low-pressure plasma-treated PDMS by VUV spectroscopic ellipsometry.

The Journal of chemical physics·2026
Same author

Catalytic oxygen generation and drug delivery via manganese dioxide nanoparticles to enhance radiotherapy in glioblastoma.

International journal of pharmaceutics·2026
Same author

Bottom-Up Programming of Cell States in Cancer Organoids with Defined Synthetic Adhesion Cues.

Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)·2026
Same author

Conductive Hydrogels for Exogenous Sensing and Cell Fate Control.

Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)·2026
Same author

Cells Dynamically Adapt Their Nuclear Volumes and Proliferation Rates During Single to Multicellular Transitions.

Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)·2026
Same author

Mineralized Cryogel/Hydrogel Constructs to Recapitulate Early Breast Cancer Bone Metastasis In Vitro.

Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)·2026
Same journal

Analysis of strength degradation of coal and rock masses and stability of mined areas under long term immersion environment.

PloS one·2026
Same journal

Biogenic Silver-Selenium nanocomposite with anticancer activity and potent efficacy against vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

PloS one·2026
Same journal

Preparation and physicochemical characterization of a biodegradable chitosan/carboxymethyl cellulose hydrogel synthesized in NaOH/urea medium.

PloS one·2026
Same journal

Action-guilt, survivor-guilt, and depression in combat-related PTSD.

PloS one·2026
Same journal

Explainable machine learning for predicting activities of daily living at discharge in stroke patients: A retrospective study using SHAP interpretability.

PloS one·2026
Same journal

Deep learning based two-way feature depiction model for brain tumor detection.

PloS one·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 28, 2026

A Visual Guide for Studying Behavioral Defenses to Pathogen Attacks in Leaf-Cutting Ants
08:10

A Visual Guide for Studying Behavioral Defenses to Pathogen Attacks in Leaf-Cutting Ants

Published on: October 12, 2018

Smart skin patterns protect springtails.

Ralf Helbig1, Julia Nickerl, Christoph Neinhuis

  • 1Max Bergmann Centre of Biomaterials, Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden, Dresden, Germany.

Plos One
|October 8, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Springtail arthropods possess unique anti-adhesive skin patterns, featuring bristles and nanoscopic granules, that resist wetting even under pressure. This natural design offers inspiration for developing durable, non-wetting artificial surfaces.

More Related Videos

Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) Protocols for Problematic Plant, Oomycete, and Fungal Samples
10:57

Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) Protocols for Problematic Plant, Oomycete, and Fungal Samples

Published on: February 3, 2017

Characterizing Herbivore Resistance Mechanisms: Spittlebugs on Brachiaria spp. as an Example
06:52

Characterizing Herbivore Resistance Mechanisms: Spittlebugs on Brachiaria spp. as an Example

Published on: June 19, 2011

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 28, 2026

A Visual Guide for Studying Behavioral Defenses to Pathogen Attacks in Leaf-Cutting Ants
08:10

A Visual Guide for Studying Behavioral Defenses to Pathogen Attacks in Leaf-Cutting Ants

Published on: October 12, 2018

Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) Protocols for Problematic Plant, Oomycete, and Fungal Samples
10:57

Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) Protocols for Problematic Plant, Oomycete, and Fungal Samples

Published on: February 3, 2017

Characterizing Herbivore Resistance Mechanisms: Spittlebugs on Brachiaria spp. as an Example
06:52

Characterizing Herbivore Resistance Mechanisms: Spittlebugs on Brachiaria spp. as an Example

Published on: June 19, 2011

Area of Science:

  • Biomimetics
  • Materials Science
  • Entomology

Background:

  • Springtails (Collembola) exhibit remarkable anti-adhesive skin properties.
  • The structural basis for their resistance to wetting remains largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the structural mechanisms behind springtail skin's anti-adhesive properties.
  • To explore the potential for biomimetic applications of these natural designs.

Main Methods:

  • Microscopic analysis of collembolan skin surface structures.
  • Wetting experiments with various organic liquids and elevated pressures.

Main Results:

  • Collembolan skin combines bristles with a comb-like mesh of nanoscopic granules.
  • A key feature is the negative overhang of ridges and granules, enhancing non-wetting.
  • These structures provide resistance to wetting by organic liquids and high pressures.

Conclusions:

  • The unique micro/nanostructure, particularly the negative overhang, is crucial for springtail skin's non-wetting capabilities.
  • This biological design principle can inspire the development of advanced artificial surfaces with superior anti-adhesive and wear-resistant properties.