More bio-inspired functional materials pouring out of labs

Subject: Science & Tech

Section :Biotechnology

Bio-inspired materials:

Bio-inspired materials are synthetic materials whose structure, properties or function mimic those of natural materials or living matter.
Examples include:
- Light-harvesting photonic materials that mimic photosynthesis
- Structural composites that imitate the structure of nacre
- Metal actuators inspired by the movements of jellyfish
- Spider silk has ultra-high tensile strength.
- Honeycomb structures used in industries are inspired by the honeycomb made by the bees.
- The crescent-shaped structures on the insides of a pitcher plant — a plant with pitchers into which insects fall and are duly digested — give a better surface texture to the cutting edges of machine tools.

Euplectella aspergillum:

It is a greyish-white sponge that is found in the deep waters of the Pacific.
Loosely woven and bottle-shaped, they grow in clumps and keep dancing with the motion of the waters.
The locals know them as ‘venus flower basket’.

The lattice structure of Euplectella aspergillum:

There were vertical and horizontal struts, making several little squares. But while some squares had diagonal struts (closed cells), others didn’t (open cells).
This lattice structure in the venus flower basket is nature’s way of giving the sponge properties of buckling resistance and impact and vibration absorption.
Researcher at IIT-Madras made engineering materials inspired by the lattice structure of this plant.
- These engineered materials are the basic building blocks that can eventually be adopted into automobiles, space, armoured vehicles, bio-implants, and so on.
- These bio-inspired structures showed better energy absorption performance than the most commonly used foams and honeycombs for industrial applications.
- These structures can be incorporated into the aero-engine components to significantly reduce the weight, increase vibration absorption and for improved heat dissipation control.