Innovative Research Reveals Squid Cell Structures for Material Advances

July 6, 2025
Innovative Research Reveals Squid Cell Structures for Material Advances

Researchers at the University of California, Irvine (UCI), in collaboration with the Marine Biological Laboratory, have uncovered unique cellular structures in squid skin that facilitate dynamic color changes. This groundbreaking study, published in the journal Science on June 30, 2025, highlights the role of iridophores—specialized cells embedded in squid mantle tissue—and their internal architecture in manipulating light, which has led to the development of a new multispectral composite material.

The research team, led by Alon Gorodetsky, an associate professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at UCI, utilized advanced microscopy techniques to analyze the three-dimensional organization of squid skin cells. Their findings reveal that the iridophores contain stacked columns of a protein known as reflectin, which serves as a Bragg reflector. This structure allows squids to selectively reflect and transmit light at specific wavelengths, enabling their ability to shift between transparent and vividly colored states.

According to Dr. Gorodetsky, “In nature, many animals use Bragg reflectors for structural coloration. A squid’s capacity to rapidly and reversibly transition from transparent to colored states is remarkable. We discovered that specialized cellular structures with sinusoidal refractive index distributions enable these extraordinary feats.”

The study's co-author, Roger Hanlon, a senior scientist at the Marine Biological Laboratory, emphasized the importance of their collaboration, stating, “The Marine Biological Laboratory has a long-standing reputation for studying squids and other cephalopods, which provided invaluable expertise in capturing and analyzing these biological specimens.”

To visualize the cellular structures, the team employed holotomography, a technique that combines low-intensity light with quantitative phase imaging. This method allowed researchers to construct detailed three-dimensional images of the iridophores, revealing the complex interplay of light within the cells. Dr. Georgii Bogdanov, a postdoctoral researcher at UCI and co-lead author of the study, noted, “The high refractive index of reflectin proteins was crucial in revealing the sinusoidal refractive index distributions within squid iridophore cells.”

Building on these insights, Gorodetsky and his team designed a tunable multispectral composite material that can adjust its optical properties. This new material, inspired by squid biology, demonstrates flexibility and stretchability and can change its appearance in response to environmental stimuli. Co-lead author Aleksandra Strzelecka, a Ph.D. candidate in chemical and biomolecular engineering at UCI, remarked, “These bioinspired materials go beyond simple static color control; they can dynamically adjust their appearances in visible and infrared wavelengths.”

The implications of this research extend well beyond the immediate findings. The potential applications for these materials are vast, ranging from adaptive camouflage and responsive fabrics to advanced sensors and multispectral displays. Gorodetsky asserts that the fundamental insights gained from studying squid skin could significantly enhance various optical technologies, including lasers, fiber optics, and photovoltaics.

“The study illustrates the power of integrating basic research with practical applications,” Gorodetsky concluded. “We have likely just begun to explore the possibilities of cephalopod-inspired tunable optical materials in our laboratory.”

This research was supported by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research. The collaborative nature of this project underscores the importance of interdisciplinary efforts in advancing scientific understanding and technological innovation.

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squid biologyiridophoresreflectin proteinmultispectral materialsUC IrvineMarine Biological Laboratoryoptical technologydynamic colorationscience researchholotomographychemical engineeringcamouflage technologybiomimicryadvanced materialslight manipulationenvironmental stimulitunable opticsscientific collaborationnanostructured materialscephalopod researchinterdisciplinary scienceoptical engineeringadaptive fabricsinfrared technologyphenomena of color changesquid mantlebiological specimensDefense Advanced Research Projects AgencyAir Force Office of Scientific Researchscientific publication

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