Biomimetics: forecasting the future of science, engineering, and medicine

Abstract

Biomimetics is the study of nature and natural phenomena to understand the principles of underlying mechanisms, to obtain ideas from nature, and to apply concepts that may benefit science, engineering, and medicine. Examples of biomimetic studies include fluid-drag reduction swimsuits inspired by the structure of shark's skin, velcro fasteners modeled on burrs, shape of airplanes developed from the look of birds, and stable building structures copied from the backbone of turban shells. In this article, we focus on the current research topics in biomimetics and discuss the potential of biomimetics in science, engineering, and medicine. Our report proposes to become a blueprint for accomplishments that can stem from biomimetics in the next 5 years as well as providing insight into their unseen limitations.

Keywords: biomaterials; biomimicry; nanomedicine; nanotechnology; nature; tissue engineering.

Figure 1

The area of applications in biomimetics.

Figure 2

Biomimicry taxonomy categorizing the research interests of biomimetics. Note: Republished with permission of Springer Science and Business Media, from Biologically Inspired Design: Computational Methods and Tools, Goel AK, McAdams DA, Stone RB, editors, © Springer-Verlag London 2014; permission conveyed through Copyright Clearance Center, Inc.

Figure 3

DaimlerChrysler’s prototype bionic car (D), inspired by the box fish (A), skeleton structure of blowfish adapted for designing of vehicles (C), and tree growth patterns (B). Note: Republished with permission of Springer Science and Business Media, from Bannasch RB. Technology Guide. Springer;2009:178–183, © Copyright 2009; permission conveyed through Copyright Clearance Center, Inc.

Figure 4

SEM images illustrating the variation in dermal denticle shapes across the body surface of Scyliorhinus canicula. Note: © IOP Publishing. Reproduced with permission from Sullivan T, Regan F. The characterization, replication and testing of dermal denticles of Scyliorhinus canicula for physical mechanisms of biofouling prevention. Bioinspiration and Biomimetics. 2011;6(4):046001, doi: 10.1088/1748-3182/6/4/046001. All rights reserved. Abbreviation: SEM, scanning electron microscopy.

Figure 5

The Eastgate building in Harare, Zimbabwe, adapting the design of nests of termites. Notes: Constructed building based on the design of termites’ nest (A) and internal structure and air flow of termite nest (B). © John Wiley and Sons 2010. Reproduced with permission from John Wiley and Sons, from French JR, Ahmed BM. The challenge of biomimetic design for carbon-neutral buildings using termite engineering. Insect Sci. 2010;17(2):154–162.

Figure 6

(A) Structure of byssi in mussels. (B) Chemical structure of a Dopa-rich mussel foot protein (mfp). Note: Reproduced with permission of Annual Review of Materials Research, Vol 41, © by Annual Reviews, http://www.annualreviews.org, from Lee BP, Messersmith PB, Israelachvili JN, Waite JH. Mussel-inspired adhesives and coatings. Annual review of materials research. 2011;41:99.

Figure 6

(A) Structure of byssi in mussels. (B) Chemical structure of a Dopa-rich mussel foot protein (mfp). Note: Reproduced with permission of Annual Review of Materials Research, Vol 41, © by Annual Reviews, http://www.annualreviews.org, from Lee BP, Messersmith PB, Israelachvili JN, Waite JH. Mussel-inspired adhesives and coatings. Annual review of materials research. 2011;41:99.

Figure 7

Images of the crack-healing process in control mortar specimens before (A and B) and after 100 days of healing (C and D). Note: Reprinted from Wiktor V, Jonkers HM. Quantification of crack-healing in novel bacteria-based self-healing concrete. Cem. Concr. Compos. 2011;33(7):763–770, with permission from Elsevier.

Figure 8

Image of RHex. Notes: Reproduced with permission from Altendorfer R, Moore N, Komsuoglu H, et al. RHex: a biologically inspired hexapod runner. Autonomous Robots. 2001;11(3):207–213, with kind permission from Springer Science and Business Media.

Figure 9

Image of the snake robots. Note: © 2007 IEEE. Reproduced with permission, from Wright C, Johnson A, Peck A, et al. Design of a modular snake robot. Paper presented at: Intelligent Robots and Systems, 2007. IROS 2007. IEEE/RSJ International Conference on 2007.