Nanoarchitectonics for Hybrid and Related Materials for Bio‐Oriented Applications

Abstract

Atom/molecular-level controls in nanotechnology are important for the precise placement of components in device applications. Despite many advances, nanotechnology still uses simple systems to make precise atom/ molecule-scale changes. This is in contrast with the many phenomena observed in biological systems, where there appears to be a well-designed integrative approach involving molecular units to achieve atomic-and molecular-scale changes. Inspired by nature, we introduced a novel concept-nanoarchitectonics-to develop nanoscale functional materials for bio-oriented applications. Nanoarchitectonics is a unified concept combining nanotechnology and methodologies in related research fields, such as supramolecular chemistry, self-assembly, and self-organization, to satisfy the major features of nanosciences for the creation of functional materials or even devices and machines. This concept guides the harmonized assembly of nanoscale objects into higher order functional materials. In this Feature Article, recent research activities are introduced regarding the development of advanced functional materials of hybrid and related architectures on the basis of nanoarchitectonics from diverse contexts of organic and inorganic materials: i) from biology (DNA-based hybrid); ii) from geology (clay-based hybrid); iii) from 0D nanotechnology (fullerene-based hybrid); and iv) from other nanoarchitectonics. Therefore, this Feature Article showcases some examples of the nanoarchitectonic concepts at work in diverse material types.

Myelin Sheath as a Dielectric Waveguide for Signal Propagation in the Mid‐Infrared to Terahertz Spectral Range

“…Nanoarchitectonics, combining nanotechnology and methodologies of supramolecular chemistry, self‐assembly, and self‐organization, could develop the advanced functional materials of neuron systems, such as neuron cells, myelin, axon, and dendrite. Even specific function of neuron system might be invented by nanoarchitectonics, for instance enhancing the transmission efficiency, speed, and accuracy as well as decreasing loss of neuron information propagation.…”

Insulin Delivery from Glucose‐Responsive, Self‐Assembled, Polyamine Nanoparticles: Smart “Sense‐and‐Treat” Nanocarriers Made Easy

“…Rational and nature-inspired engineering of responsive delivery nanoarchitecturesh as emerged as af ascinatingc hallenge in materials science and modernb iomedicine. [1][2][3][4][5][6] Within this context, the development of intelligent glucose-sensitive delivery devices to treat diabetes mellitush as prompted substantial research advances. [7][8][9][10] This metabolic disease is characterizedb y ad eficit of endogenously produced insulin (Ins) and/or Ins resistancet hat leads to elevated blood glucosel evels (hyperglycemia).…”

Natural Cellulose Derived Nanocomposites as Anodic Materials for Lithium‐Ion Batteries

“…Owing to the general applicability of the concept, it has been lucubrated by K. Ariga et al . and are applied to multifarious fields such as supramolecular assemblies, environmental sciences, catalysis, bio‐oriented applications, energy‐related sciences, and so on.…”

“…[2] Nanoarchitectonics is a fundamental concept to architecturally construct functional materials from atoms, molecules, and nanoscale units by harmonization of multiple methodologies including atom/molecular-level manipulations, chemical modifications of the unit molecules, physical fabrication of nanostructures, self-assembly, self-organization, and field-controlled organization. [3] Owing to the general applicability of the concept, it has been lucubrated by K. Ariga et al and are applied to multifarious fields such as supramolecular assemblies, [4] environmental sciences, [5] catalysis, [6] bio-oriented applications, [7] energy-related sciences, [8] and so on.…”