A Biodegradable, Porous Flier Inspired by a Parachute‐Like <i>Tragopogon</i> Fruit for Environmental Preservation

New devices inspired by flying seeds, or more technically by fruits with dispersal units, could have a significant impact for environmental monitoring and aerial seeding. Among the various types of dispersal units (e.g., winged, gliding), parachuted or plumed units offer the lowest vertical descent speed (i.e., 0.3-0.7 m s<sup>-1</sup>), making them an appealing solution for wind-driven distribution over large areas. Here, a biodegradable and porous parachute flier based on cellulose acetate, inspired by a Tragopogon pratensis fruit is presented. A micrometric-thick pappus is 3D printed and integrated with a porous colorimetric indicator or a porous beak, with micrometric pores, fabricated through injection molding and leaching techniques. Thanks to the bioinspired design and the lightweight porous structure, the artificial Tragopogon mimics the aerodynamics and descent speed of the natural species. Its feasibility is demonstrated in aerial seeding by integrating the beak with a mustard seed (as a model), and in environmental monitoring by coupling it with colorimetric indicators for rain pH and nitrate levels in soils. The proposed flier represents a significant advancement as it is the first parachute-like biodegradable solution, seamlessly integrated into natural ecosystems, thus contributing to moving a step forward in artificial solutions with zero impact.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Small
Published
2024-09-17
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202403582
Citations
10
Primary Topic
Surface Modification and Superhydrophobicity
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
1.79

Funders

Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

A Biodegradable, Porous Flier Inspired by a Parachute‐Like Tragopogon Fruit for Environmental Preservation

Carlo Filippeschi, Marilena Ronzan, Kliton Cikalleshi, Barbara Mazzolai et al.
10 citations
Small
Surface Modification and Superhydrophobicity
1.79
article

A Biodegradable, Porous Flier Inspired by a Parachute‐Like Tragopogon Fruit for Environmental Preservation

Carlo Filippeschi, Marilena Ronzan, Kliton Cikalleshi, Barbara Mazzolai, Giovanna Adele Naselli, Stefano Mariani
article en
10 citations

Abstract

New devices inspired by flying seeds, or more technically by fruits with dispersal units, could have a significant impact for environmental monitoring and aerial seeding. Among the various types of dispersal units (e.g., winged, gliding), parachuted or plumed units offer the lowest vertical descent speed (i.e., 0.3-0.7 m s<sup>-1</sup>), making them an appealing solution for wind-driven distribution over large areas. Here, a biodegradable and porous parachute flier based on cellulose acetate, inspired by a Tragopogon pratensis fruit is presented. A micrometric-thick pappus is 3D printed and integrated with a porous colorimetric indicator or a porous beak, with micrometric pores, fabricated through injection molding and leaching techniques. Thanks to the bioinspired design and the lightweight porous structure, the artificial Tragopogon mimics the aerodynamics and descent speed of the natural species. Its feasibility is demonstrated in aerial seeding by integrating the beak with a mustard seed (as a model), and in environmental monitoring by coupling it with colorimetric indicators for rain pH and nitrate levels in soils. The proposed flier represents a significant advancement as it is the first parachute-like biodegradable solution, seamlessly integrated into natural ecosystems, thus contributing to moving a step forward in artificial solutions with zero impact.

SmallVol. 21(3)
Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna (IT), Italian Institute of Technology (IT)
European Commission, Horizon 2020 Framework Programme
Life in Land
Openalex Percentile: Top 16%
Surface Modification and Superhydrophobicity
1.79
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.