3D Biomimetic Tongue-Emulating Surfaces for Tribological Applications.

Efren Andablo-Reyes,Anne Neville,Mathew Francis,Rik Sarkar,Paul Hyde,Anwesha Sarkar,Michael Bryant

doi:10.1021/acsami.0c12925

Efren Andablo-Reyes, Anne Neville + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.0c12925

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Abstract

Oral friction on the tongue surface plays a pivotal role in mechanics of food transport, speech, sensing, and hedonic responses. The highly specialized biophysical features of the human tongue such as micropapillae-dense topology, optimum wettability, and deformability present architectural challenges in designing artificial tongue surfaces, and the absence of such a biomimetic surface impedes the fundamental understanding of tongue–food/fluid interaction. Herein, we fabricate for the first time, a 3D soft biomimetic surface that replicates the topography and wettability of a real human tongue. The 3D-printed fabrication contains a Poisson point process-based (random) papillae distribution and is employed to micromold soft silicone surfaces with wettability modifications. We demonstrate the unprecedented capability of these surfaces to replicate the theoretically defined and simulated collision probability of papillae and to closely resemble the tribological performances of human tongue masks. These de novo biomimetic surfaces pave the way for accurate quantification of mechanical interactions in the soft oral mucosa.

Highlights

Mammalian tongues surfaces are textured with complex geometries, usually at sizes of hundreds of microns
Papillae located in the dorsal anterior section of the tongue,[6] such as fungiform and filiform papillae are the key players in oral tribology
We aimed to create a biomimetic surface that fulfills the following requirements: (1) The synthetic tongue surface should mimic the intricate topography of human tongue with precise geometry and density of the filiform and fungiform papillae per unit area

Summary

Introduction

Mammalian tongues surfaces are textured with complex geometries, usually at sizes of hundreds of microns. Their high deformability and sophisticated topology, combined with optimum wettability, produce precisely calibrated oral friction and lubrication necessary for controlling highly evolved biophysical activities. Papillae located in the dorsal anterior section of the tongue,[6] such as fungiform and filiform papillae are the key players in oral tribology. Put they govern the friction and lubrication at the interface between food/oral fluids and the tongue. Oral tribology has aroused growing interests in fundamental understanding of how exogenously administered fluids, such as food,[7,8] oral medicines,[9] oral care products,[10] and internal fluids such as saliva[11] interact with the tongue and generate complex textural perception

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