September 11, 2013

NTU and A*STAR scientists create super biomaterials from squids, mussels and sea snails



The marriage of molecular biology and material science leads to biomaterials that are stronger than most plastics

Scientists from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) have developed new biomaterials, such as one from squid’s sucker ring teeth that is harder, more rigid and more wear-resistant than conventional plastics.

This breakthrough is made possible by the use of a new interdisciplinary approach which integrates RNA sequencing and proteomics - the study of functions, structures and the interactions of proteins - with material science.