Biomimetic functions

As discussed in the first section of this chapter, interest in dendrimers has increased rapidly since the successful synthesis of the first cascade molecules two decades ago. Much of this interest has been driven by the expectation that dendrimers will exhibit unique properties [2-5, 60]. Because dendrimers in many cases interact strongly with metal ions, it seems reasonable to expect that such composite materials might provide additional heretofore unknown or biomimetic functions. This is particularly true in hght of the high number of metal ions that can be complexed to a single dendrimer and (in some cases) their well-defined position in the dendrimer. For example, there has been much recent speculation that these materials will be useful for catalysis [3, 4, 53,... 

III.D. Biomimetic Functional Model Complexes for Lignin Degradation... 

Biomimetic ligand design aimed at biomimetic functionality is also still far from perfect but has reached, occasionally, such a point of sophistication that, for example, one conformational isomer of a model exhibits zero SOD activity and the other one is very active. 

The area between enzymatic and chemical catalyses, associated with simulation of biochemical processes by their basic parameters, is accepted as mimetic catalysis. The key aspect of the mimetic catalyst is diversity of enzyme and biomimetic function processes, which principally distinguishes the mimetic model from traditional full simulation. Based on the analysis of conformities and diversities of enzymatic and chemical catalysis, the general aspects of mimetic catalysis are discussed. An idealized model of the biomimetic catalyst and the exclusive role of the membrane in its structural organization are considered. The most important achievements in the branch of catalysis are shown, in particular, new approaches to synthesis and study of biomimetic catalase, peroxidase and monooxidases reactions. 

Fiamengo R, Crego-Calama M, Reinhoudt DN. Synthetic self-assembled models with biomimetic functions. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2001 5 660-73. 

Knoll W, Naumann R, Friedrich M, Robertson JWF, Losche M, Heinrich F, McGillivray DJ, Schuster B, Gufler PC, Pum D, Sleytr UB (2008) Solid supported lipid membranes new concepts for the biomimetic functionalization of solid surfaces. Biointerphases 3 FA125-FA135... 

FIGURE 3.9 A biomimetic functional model of chlorite dismutase. 

Novel and Biomimetic Functions of Carotenoids in Artificial Photosynthesis... 

Model Systems with chapters on Novel and Biomimetic Functions of Carotenoids in Artificial Photosynthesis by Thomas A. Moore et al.. Physical... 

Mey I, Steinem C, Jansholf A (2012) Biomimetic functionalization of porous substrates towards model systems for cellular membranes. J Mater Chem 22 19348 Moshnikov VA, Graeheva I, Lenshin AS, Spivak YM, Anehkov MG, Kuznetsov W, Olchowik JM (2012) Porous silieon with embedded metal oxides for gas sensing apphcations. J Non-Cryst Solids 358 590... 

In the second part, selected immobilized structural and spectroscopic active site models will be discussed and aspects of characterization and analytics of immobilized transition metal complexes will be exemplarily disclosed. Typical techniques include spectroscopic methods addressing the immobilized biomimetic species and determination of metal ion leaching and active site integrity, for example, by selective extraction of the intact biomimetic metal complex - the prosthetic group - from the matrix - the apoenzyme (prosthetic group extraction). The third section gives a short overview of the elementary reaction steps in the catalytic processes and their observation on solid matrixes. Selected immobilized biomimetic functional active site models will be discussed in detail in the last section. 

In a sense, our efforts to create biomimetic functional materials and bioinspired nanodevices are following the arc of development of human flight. First came the study of biological systems. This was followed by the creation of hybrid systems to elucidate the key principles of flight. Ultimately, synthetic flying machines were developed. 

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