Research
Biomedical, Bio-derived, and Bio-inspired Materials
Biomaterials have evolved to perform various functions including structural support, signal transduction, actuation, sensing, catalysis, trafficking, gating, light-harvesting, charge transfer, molecular recognition, self-assembly, self-organization, self-replication, or combinations of two or more of these functions - the properties of biomaterials are extremely diverse.
In fact, nature demonstrates highly complex and sophisticated engineering models at various length scales that have inspired mankind throughout history. Learning from nature and applying nature’s engineering principles in materials science and engineering is a promising approach to sustainable solutions for various critical challenges and applications. Thus, rational integration of biomaterials with abiotic counterparts and achieving synergy among these two distinct material domains is an exciting scientific and technological challenge. Overall, design, synthesis and application of functional materials comprised of biomolecules or inspired by biology forms a novel paradigm in the development of unique optical, sensing, electronic and structural materials, and devices.
