Natural selection and evolution develop a huge amount of biological materials in different environments (e.g. lotus in water and opuntia in desert). These biological materials possess many inspiring properties, which hint scientists and engineers to find some useful clues to create new materials or update the existing ones. In this review, we highlight some well-studied (e.g. nacre shell) and newly-studied (e.g. turtle shell) natural materials, and summarize their hierarchical structures and mechanisms behind their mechanical properties, from animals to plants. These fascinating mechanisms suggest to researchers to investigate natural materials deeply and broadly, and to design or fabricate new bio-inspired materials to serve our life.

Bio-mimetic mechanisms of natural hierarchical materials: a review.

Climate change, environmental impact and the limited natural resources urge scientific research and novel technical solutions. The monograph series Green Energy and Technology serves as a publishing platform for scientific and technological approaches to "green" i.e. environmentally friendly and sustainable technologies. While a focus lies on energy and power supply, it also covers "green" solutions in industrial engineering and engineering design. Green Energy and Technology addresses researchers, advanced students, technical consultants as well as decision makers in industries and politics. Hence, the level of presentation spans from instructional to highly technical. **Indexed in Scopus**.

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Green Energy and Technology

The Human Nervous System: Structure and Function, 6th ed., C.R. Noback, N.L. Strominger, R.J. Demarest, D.A. Ruggiero (Eds.). The Humana Press (2005), Price $99.50, ISBN: 1-588-29-039-5

The secreted mucilage trails of the diatom Navicula sp. in the process of motility were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Raman spectra etc. Contrary to previous studies, force measurement was taken directly on the mucilage trails of live cells using the method of in situ force mapping by AFM. The retraction force curve presented an increased tip-substrate peak and a small saw-tooth pattern tip-mucilage peak. Especially, same measurements on various substrates with different surface energy revealed that the mucilage trails actually functioned as a medium increasing the adhesive force between the diatom and substrates, which is crucial to diatom’s adhesion and locomotion. In addition, the mechanical properties of mucilage trails were quite different from mucilage strands in the maximum adhesive force and the maximum polymer extension length. Raman spectra indicated the difference in compositions that both of the two kinds of mucilages had proteins and polysaccharide, but the mucilage strands contained some other components with C=O, —CH2— and —CH3 asymmetric and symmetric stretches. This research hammers out more precise information about mucilage trails which would be useful in terms of diatom motility and biofouling prevention.

/pdf/contribution-of-frustules-and-mucilage-trails-to-the-3ntjpt8g21.pdf

Contribution of frustules and mucilage trails to the mobility of diatom Navicula sp.

Plant extract from Allium Sativum extract was used for the synthesis of selenium nanoparticles from sodium selenite solution. Selenium nanoparticles characterized by using UV-Visible (UV-VIS) spectrophotometer, Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform spectroscopy (FTIR) and Energy dispersive X-Ray spectroscopy (EDAX). The selenium nanoparticles synthesized by Allium sativum were observed as hollow and spherical particles in size ranging 8-52nm which is found more stable than two months. Antimicrobial activity of the selenium nanoparticles was performed by well diffusion method against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis. The selenium nanoparticles synthesized in this process has the efficient antimicrobial activity against pathogenic bacteria.

https://www.thepharmajournal.com/archives/2018/vol7issue9/PartE/7-9-34-545.pdf

Synthesis of selenium nanoparticles using Allium sativum extract and analysis of their antimicrobial property against gram positive bacteria

A novel way to describe the complexity of biological and engineering approaches depending on the number of different base materials is proposed: Either many materials are used (material dominates) or few materials (form dominates) or just one material (structure dominates). The complexity of the approach (in biology as well as in engineering) increases with decreasing number of base materials. Biomimetics, i.e., technology transfer from biology to engineering, is especially promising in MEMS development because of the material constraints in both fields. The Biomimicry Innovation Method is applied here for the first time to identify naturally nanostructured rigid functional materials, and subsequently analyse their prospect in terms of inspiring MEMS development.

http://www.iap.tuwien.ac.at/~gebeshuber/Diatomposter_Singapore2009.pdf

Exploring the innovational potential of biomimetics for novel 3D MEMS

We propose a concept for a novel ‘innervated’ material that is assembled by addition of a multitude of MEMS to a conventional material. This approach shall enable the material to show specific reactions to external inputs, and make the reaction accessible to external observers. By implementing such innervated material into buildings, clothing or even food, it would be possible to create a virtual neural system in objects. This work introduces the concept, gives an outlook on the potential of such an approach in art, science and technology and the possible impact on the life of future generations.

GEMS: A MEMS-Based Way for the Innervation of Materials

Many biological fluids require filtration during its processing, either to separate the various components in the fluid or to remove unwanted or harmful contaminants from the medium. Challenges arise in the filtration process as the masses to be filtered appear in various sizes [1]. Conventional filtration method requires lengthy and timely repeated processes. A simple solution to this problem is the isolation of the unwanted masses via sequenced filtration using precisely sized nanoporous silicon membrane. Porous silicon has found various applications in microelectronics and microelectromech anical systems (MEMS) including MEMS packaging and isolation layer [2]. Recent advancements in MEMS fabrication have enabled the production of nanoporous silicon membrane for isolation of components in biological fluids. Aside from effectively separating various components in biological fluids such as blood and enzyme solutions, nanoporous silicon membrane could be utilized to selectively remove harmful contaminants in the aforementioned fluids via multiple filtration process [3]. Whether the intended mass to be separated from the medium is a fluid component or harmful contaminants, the mass is selectively filtered using

Etched Nanoporous Silicon Membrane for Filtration of Biological Fluids

Many biological fluids require filtration during its processing, either to separate the various components in the fluid or to remove unwanted or harmful contaminants from the medium. Challenges arise in the filtration process as the masses to be filtered appear in various sizes [1]. Conventional filtration method requires lengthy and timely repeated processes. A simple solution to this problem is the isolation of the unwanted masses via sequenced filtration using precisely sized nanoporous silicon membrane.

Dee Chang Fu

Papers

Exploring the innovational potential of biomimetics for novel 3D MEMS

GEMS: A MEMS-Based Way for the Innervation of Materials

Etched Nanoporous Silicon Membrane for Filtration of Biological Fluids

Electrochemically etched nanoporous silicon membrane for filtration of biological fluids