Future Perspectives on Biological Fabrication and Material Farming

Abstract

What is biological fabrication? It is combining the ability of designing bioinspired molecules (chemistry) with nature's complexity and ingenious paths (biology) in order to produce new composite materials with emergent properties while being able to tailor the said materials' end‐functionality or functionalities. And what is material farming? It is the possibility to implement alternative and sustainable methodologies of biological fabrication toward larger scales, real‐life applications, and marketable products. The proof‐of‐principle is recently demonstrated for biological fabrication of fibers with tailored properties using an in vitro cotton culture and designed glucose derivatives yielding fluorescent and supermagnetic cotton fibers. This new “fabrication approach” will allow, in the future, to sustainably transform abundant raw materials into an innovative new class of composite functional materials, such as a new generation of smart textiles in the above case of cotton. This essay provides a very brief overview of the research done in cotton, the methodology used for the biological fabrication of cotton fibers with tailored properties and, finally, showcases perspectives on the future of this new and exciting research field that challenges the present fabrication methodologies that heavily rely on an old mindset toward bio‐based fabrication strategies.

Tracking the Biological Incorporation of Exogenous Molecules into Cellulose Fibers with Non‐Radioactive Iodinated Glucose

“…Semi‐synthetic biological fabrication combines the ability to chemically synthesize analogs with higher organisms’ natural functions to create biological materials with unnatural properties [1] that surpass both natural systems and human‐made organic chemical synthesis. One of the requirements for semi‐synthetic biological fabrication is that the synthetic analogs resemble, chemically and structurally, those used by organisms.…”

Hierarchical biopolymer‐based materials and composites

“…One advantage of this technique is the possibility to tune the culture parameters to improve the target properties. Natalio 237 showcased a plant cell culture technique that permits adjusting the ultimate material properties by assimilating functional additives straight from the culture medium. For example, the synthesized cellulose fibers from cultured ovules could acquire properties like fluorescence and magnetism depending on the functional molecule used.…”

Macrobiomineralogy: Insights and Enigmas in Giant Whale Bones and Perspectives for Bioinspired Materials Science

“…Biomineral-based skeletal structures are seen at all length scales ranging in nature from the nano (virus and bacteria) to the micro (diatoms, coccolithophores) to the macro (several meters long whale bones) levels. The mechanisms controlling and affecting biomineralization remain hotly debated − with both basic science implications as well as direct application in the field of biomimetics. , Detailed knowledge about biomineralization is useful for abstract concepts of modern material science, nanotechnology, and biologically inspired materials chemistry. ,− …”

“…The mechanisms controlling and affecting biomineralization remain hotly debated 16−22 with both basic science implications as well as direct application in the field of biomimetics. 23,24 Detailed knowledge about biomineralization is useful for abstract concepts of modern material science, nanotechnology, and biologically inspired materials chemistry. 9,25−27 Biomineralization related phenomena usually relate to mineral growth in aqueous environments only in living organisms.…”