Bio-based and Biomimetic Materials

NEW Bio-based and biomimetic materials their properties and uses (Section 8.22)... 

The research route of biomimetic materials is a process that derives from nature but beyond nature ultimately. Scientists first discover the special property of bio-system and give a scientific explanation of the mechanism behind the property. Based on the understanding, researchers mimic the chemical composition and microstructures of the bio-system to recur the desired bio-function. Then abundant artificial fabrication approaches can be used to create new materials that possess better performance or more functionalities than natural materials. McKinley and Cohen et al. synthesized a series of fiuorinated polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (fiuoroPOSS) that were of very low free energy (Fig. 18.10a). Because pure fiuoroPOSS was not spinnable, they blended the fiuoroPOSS with... 

The biomimetic membranes represent a special group of carrier membranes. They are artificial membranes based on biomembrane mimicking, i.e., imitation of the essential features bio membranes use for separation. Nitrocellulose filters impregnated with fatty acids, their esters, and other lipid-like substances may be used— in other words, an imitation of many nonspecific barrier properties of biomembranes. The transport of gas through these membranes will essentially be according to facilitated transport (see Section 4.2). Biomimetic membranes for CO2 capture will transport the gas as HCO3. Development of these materials may be expected for selected applications. 

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