Biological and Biomimetic Materials

Nature has long served as a source of inspiration for humans in developing technology.In the last few decades there has been an explosion of studies revealing new and ever more interesting biomaterials and structures that show extreme, unexpected properties.Butterfly wings, mollusk shells, bones, spider silk, gecko feet, lotus leaves, plant cell walls, mussel byssi, Venus's Flower Basket, and brittlestar optics are just several inspirational examples that have fueled a recent escalation of interest in ''smart'' biological structures from materials scientists. [1]hese creatures obviously possess skills and attributes beyond conventional engineering. [2]Scientists began to ask an important question: how do we reformulate biological designs in man-made structures and create bioinspired advanced materials that are structurally and functionally optimized, that can build themselves, repair themselves and evolve? [1]