Bio-Nanomaterials: Designing Materials Inspired by Nature - Hardcover

Bio-nanotechnology covers the development of novel techniques and materials by making use of the inspiration derived from biomolecular structures and processes. The progress in molecular biology and microbiology over the past 50 years has provided a solid basis for such development. Well characterized natural biomolecules as well as tailored recombinant proteins and tailored microorganisms obtained by genetic engineering provide a large "toolbox" for the implementation of biological structures in a technical environment. Biologically inspired materials engineering enables, for example, the preparation of living tissue for regenerative bone therapy and the biologically controlled mineralization of precious metal catalysts via immobilized microorganisms.

Written by authors from different fields to reflect the interdisciplinary nature of the topic, this book guides the reader through novel nano-materials processing inspired by nature. The presentation is structured around general principles in seven chapters, each composed of three parts:

(1) biological case studies providing the motivation, (2) elucidation of the particular principle,
(3) applications related to materials processing.