Northeastern’s Camille Martin, a former graduate student, and Leila Deravi, assistant professor of chemistry and chemical biology, are working to recreate a sun-blocking chemical that naturally occurs in cephalopods, a species that includes squid, octopuses, and cuttlefish. 

The pigments in the skin of cephalopods, including squid, octopus, and cuttlefish, can absorb ultraviolet radiation. Researchers in Northeastern’s Biomaterials Design Group are studying these animals to find ways to create new, environmentally friendly sunscreen.

Leila Deravi has been working to investigate squid camouflage on a molecular level with a large, interdisciplinary team of researchers. Their work on the longfin squid, reveals an entirely new aspect of the squid’s color-changing abilities, bringing researchers one step closer to being able to replicate it.

Leila Deravi has been working to investigate squid camouflage on a molecular level with a large, interdisciplinary team of researchers. Their work on the longfin squid, reveals an entirely new aspect of the squid’s color-changing abilities, bringing researchers one step closer to being able to replicate it.

Assistant professor Leila Deravi takes an interdisciplinary approach to investigating the proteins that drive complex biological systems and building materials in the lab that replicate those systems. Among her research projects are optical displays inspired by squids and a face cream that strengthens skin proteins to reduce wrinkles.

Bio-inspired materials chemistry is a fascinating field that focuses on understanding natural biological systems and mimicking their properties in synthetic materials. An NSF grant will allow new Northeastern University professor to continue her research on cephalopods.

Assistant Professor Leila Deravi, a member of the chemistry faculty, has secured a $232,343 grant over 18 months from the U.S. Army Research Office.