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Related Concept Videos

The Structure of Intermediate Filaments01:19

The Structure of Intermediate Filaments

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The intermediate filaments are one of three widely studied cytoskeletal filaments. They are so named as their diameter (10 nm) is in between that of microfilaments (7 nm) and the microtubules (25 nm).  These filaments are highly stable and can remain intact when exposed to high salt concentrations and detergents. These filaments are responsible for providing stability and mechanical support to the cells. They also help in cell adhesion and maintaining tissue integrity.
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Fibrous proteins are either long and narrow proteins or assemble to form long and thin structures. They contain repetitive units and usually consist of either alpha helices or beta sheets and, in rare cases, a mix of both. The amino acids in the primary structure often consist of repeating amino acid sequences. The role of fibrous proteins is primarily structural. Many are located in the extracellular matrix and are present in connective tissues to impart strength and joint mobility. They are...
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Formation of Intermediate Filaments00:57

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Intermediate filaments are cytoskeletal proteins with higher tensile strength and flexibility than microfilaments and microtubules. Unlike the other two cytoskeletal proteins, intermediate filament formation lacks the enzymatic activity to hydrolyze nucleotides like ATP and GTP to generate energy for polymerization. Therefore, the formation of intermediate filaments is multistep self-assembly. The involvement of any accessory proteins in intermediate filament formation has not yet been...
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Types of Skeletal Muscle Fibers01:32

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Skeletal muscles comprise various fibers, each with distinct characteristics and roles in movement and stability. They are mainly categorized into three types — fast-twitch, slow-twitch, and intermediate.
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Elastin is Responsible for Tissue Elasticity01:12

Elastin is Responsible for Tissue Elasticity

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Elastic fiber contains the protein elastin along with lesser amounts of other proteins and glycoproteins. The main property of elastin is that it will return to its original shape after being stretched or compressed. Elastic fibers are prominent in elastic tissues found in skin and the elastic ligaments of the vertebral column.
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Microtubules in Cell Motility01:24

Microtubules in Cell Motility

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Microtubules are thick hollow cylindrical proteins that help form the cytoskeleton. Microtubules have varied roles in the cell. These filaments help form cellular appendages like cilia and flagella, which are responsible for locomotion. The cilia arise from basal bodies, separated from the main body by a membrane-like structure forming the transition zone. This zone is the gate for the entry of lipids and proteins, creating a unique composition of lipids and proteins in the ciliary membrane and...
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Updated: Dec 19, 2025

Microfluidic Fabrication of Polymeric and Biohybrid Fibers with Predesigned Size and Shape
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Microfluidic Fabrication of Polymeric and Biohybrid Fibers with Predesigned Size and Shape

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Hourglass-Shaped Microfibers.

Rui Shi1,2, Ye Tian1,2,3, Pingan Zhu1,2

  • 1Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|June 6, 2020
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers developed novel hourglass-shaped microfibers using microfluidics and non-solvent-induced phase separation (NIPS). These engineered fibers offer enhanced water collection and dehumidification capabilities for environmental and biomedical applications.

Keywords:
bio-inspired microfibercore spillagedehumidifyinghourglass-shaped microfibermicrofluidicswater collection

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Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Fluid Dynamics

Background:

  • Heterotypic microfibers are crucial for multifunctional applications in environmental and biomedical engineering.
  • Existing microfiber fabrication methods may lack precise morphological control for advanced functionalities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a novel microfluidics-based technique for creating bio-inspired microfibers with hourglass-shaped knots.
  • To investigate the tunability of microfiber morphology and properties for enhanced performance.

Main Methods:

  • Integration of microfluidics with non-solvent-induced phase separation (NIPS) to create template spindle-microfibers.
  • Post-treatment of partially gelled spindle-microfibers to induce oil core spillage and form hourglass shapes.
  • Controlled manipulation of fluid flow rates and oil core spillage to adjust microfiber morphology and density.

Main Results:

  • Successfully fabricated hourglass-shaped microfibers with precisely regulated morphologies and densities.
  • Demonstrated superior performance of hourglass-shaped microfibers over spindle-microfibers in terms of changeable weight, adjustable morphology, high specific surface area, and surface roughness.
  • Achieved enhanced dehumidification and water collection abilities due to unique macroscale topographies.

Conclusions:

  • The NIPS-integrated microfluidic technique provides a novel and effective method for manufacturing microfibers by design.
  • Tailored microfiber structures and properties can be achieved for specific environmental and biomedical engineering applications.
  • Engineered hourglass-shaped microfibers show significant potential for advanced water management and material applications.