Polymeric materials produced from fossil fuels have been intimately linked to the
development of industrial activities in the 20th century and, consequently, to the …

In the course of evolution nature has arrived at startling materials solutions to ensure
survival. Investigations into biological surfaces, ranging from plants, insects and geckos to …

Nanofibrillar materials, such as cellulose, chitin and silk, are highly ordered architectures,
formed through the self-assembly of repetitive building blocks into higher-order structures …

Biopolymer nanofibrils exhibit exceptional mechanical properties with a unique combination
of strength and toughness, while also presenting biological functions that interact with the …

A ubiquitous biological material, keratin represents a group of insoluble, usually high-sulfur
content and filament-forming proteins, constituting the bulk of epidermal appendages such …

Introducing methods for instant tough bonding between hydrogels and antagonistic
materials—from soft to hard—allows us to demonstrate elastic yet tough biomimetic devices …

Biological systems must have the capability to withstand impacts generated during collisions
due to combat and defense. Thus, evolution has created complex materials' architectures at …

Crustacean shells are a sustainable source of chitin. Extracting chitin from crustacean shells
is ongoing research, much of which is devoted to devising a sustainable process that yields …

Collagen is the principal biopolymer in the extracellular matrix of both vertebrates and
invertebrates. It is produced in specialized cells (fibroblasts) and extracted into the body by a …

The extraordinary properties of biological materials often result from their sophisticated
hierarchical structures. Through multilevel and cross-scale structural designs, biological …