A thin polymer membrane, nano-suit, enhancing survival across the continuum between air and high vacuum

Yasuharu Takakua,g, Hiroshi Suzukib, Isao Ohtac, Daisuke Ishiid,e,g, Yoshinori Muranakac, Masatsugu Shimomurae,f,g, and Takahiko Hariyamaa,g,1
Departments of aBiology and bChemistry and cLaboratory for Ultrastructure Research, Research Equipment Center, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Handayama, Higashi-ku, Hamamatsu , Japan; dCenter for Fostering Young and Innovative Researchers, Nagoya Institute
of Technology, Gokiso-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya , Japan; eWorld Premier International Research Centers Initiative–Advanced Institute for Materials Research and fInstitute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, Katahira 2-1-1, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8577, Japan; and gCore Research for Evolutional Science and Technology, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Hon-cho 4-1-8, Kawaguchi 332-0012, Japan
Edited by David L. Denlinger, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, and approved March 8, 2013 (received for review December 10, 2012)

Most multicellular organisms can only survive under atmospheric pressure. The reduced pressure of a high vacuum usually leads to rapid dehydration and death. Here we show that a simple surface modification can render multicellular organisms strongly tolerant to high vacuum. Animals that collapsed under high vacuum continued to move following exposure of their natural extracellular surface layer (or that of an artificial coat-like polysorbitan monolaurate) to an elec- tron beam or plasma ionization (i.e., conditions known to enhance polymer formation). Transmission electron microscopic observations revealed the existence of a thin polymerized extra layer on the surface of the animal. The layer acts as a flexible “nano-suit” barrier to the passage of gases and liquids and thus protects the organism. Further- more, the biocompatible molecule, the component of the nano-suit, was fabricated into a “biomimetic” free-standing membrane. This concept will allow biology-related fields especially to use these membranes for several applications.