From imitation to inspiration

The term “nature-inspired” is associated with a sequence of efforts to understand, synthesize and imitate any natural object or phenomenon either in a tangible or intangible form, which allows us to obtain improved insights into nature. Such inspirations can come through materials, processes, or designs that we see around us. Materials, as opposed to processes and designs found in nature, are tangible and can readily be used without engineering efforts. One such example is that of an aquaporin that is used to filter water. The scope of this work in nature-inspired materials is to define, clarify, and consolidate our current understanding by reviewing examples from the laboratory to industrial scale to highlight emerging opportunities. A careful analysis of “nature-inspired materials” shows that they possess specific functionality that relies on our ability to harness particular electrical, mechanical, biological, chemical, sustainable, or combined gains.

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From imitation to inspiration

Abstract: For decades, biomimicry was a heralded concept of copying nature's inventions, but it yielded only few results. A recent shift towards more systematic ways to trawl nature's inventions and to understand their function before mimicking them could lead to new innovations.

Cited by 3 publications

References 7 publications

Microbial Nanobionic Engineering: Translational and Transgressive Science of an Antidisciplinary Approximation

Microbial Nanobionic Engineering: Translational and Transgressive Science of an Antidisciplinary Approximation

Hierarchical Polymer Composites as Smart Reactor for Formulating Simple/Tandem-Commutative Catalytic Ability

Nature-inspired materials: Emerging trends and prospects

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