Bioinspired nanoscale materials for biomedical and energy applications

Abstract

The demand for green, affordable and environmentally sustainable materials has encouraged scientists in different fields to draw inspiration from nature in developing materials with unique properties such as miniaturization, hierarchical organization and adaptability. Together with the exceptional properties of nanomaterials, over the past century, the field of bioinspired nanomaterials has taken huge leaps. While on the one hand, the sophistication of hierarchical structures endows biological systems with multi-functionality, the synthetic control on the creation of nanomaterials enables the design of materials with specific functionalities. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive, up-to-date overview of the field of bioinspired nanomaterials, which we have broadly categorized into biotemplates and biomimics. We discuss the application of bioinspired nanomaterials as biotemplates in catalysis, nanomedicine, immunoassays and in energy, drawing attention to novel materials such as protein cages. Furthermore, the applications of bioinspired materials in tissue engineering and biomineralization are also discussed.

Nanomaterials for removal of waterborne pathogens

“…These nanomaterials are classified into two basic categories: biomimics and biotemplates. It employs the application of biological methods of nanomaterial synthesis and is eco-friendly and highly adaptable (Bhattacharya et al, 2014). The most commonly synthesized bioinspired nanoparticles is AgNPs and mediated through various biomolecules such as carbohydrate (chitosan, glycogens, polysaccharides), plants (Cinnamon, Allium cepa, Mentha, etc.…”

Surface patterning of multilayer graphene by ultraviolet laser irradiation in biomolecule sensing devices

“…For sensor applications in medical diagnosis, developing electronic devices for detecting biomolecules generally entails obtaining a hydrophilic surface on the sensing region because of the restricted fluid flow [37,38]. The wettability of laser-ablated surfaces was investigated in this study by using a contact angle (CA) analyzer with water droplet.…”

Synthesis of molecular biomimetics

“…Dendrimers have as well been used as recognition elements of several types of molecules by incorporating multiple branch ends, which can be readily available for consecutive conjugation reactions and/or host-guest interactions (Yoon et al, 2000;Kesharwani et al, 2014). This includes the detection or delivery of proteins, DNA, or drugs (Gajbhiye et al, 2009;Singh et al, 2009;Malik et al, 2012;Xu et al, 2014;Bhattacharya et al, 2014).…”

“…These materials display unique physicochemical properties such as catalytic, dielectric, optical and mechanical, giving rise to distinctive applications ranging from biomedical to environmental engineering and high-energy storage (Bhattacharya et al, 2014). A wide range of new functional materials have been produced in this context, including carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene, fullerenes, polymeric nanoparticles, metal organic nanomaterials, self-assembled and supramolecular nanostructures, and their derivatives, among others.…”