Combining In Silico Design and Biomimetic Assembly: A New Approach for Developing High‐Performance Dynamic Responsive Bio‐Nanomaterials
Abstract
Major challenge remains in the design and fabrication of artificial hierarchical materials that mimic the structural and functional features of these natural materials. Here, a novel biomimetic strategy to assemble hierarchical materials from biological nanobuilding blocks is demonstrated. The constituents and structures of the materials are designed by multiscale modeling and then experimentally constructed by multiscale self‐assembly. The resultant materials that consist of silk nanofibrils (SNFs), hydroxyapatite (HAP), and chitin nanofibrils (CNFs) show nacre‐like structures with mechanical strength and toughness better than most natural nacre and nacre‐like nanocomposites. In addition, these SNF/HAP:CNF nanocomposites can be programmed into “grab‐and‐release” actuators due to the gradient structure of the nanocomposites as well as the high water sensitivity of each of the components, and thusshow potential applications in the design of novel third‐generation biomaterials for potential clinical applications. In addition, this “in silico design and biomimetic assembly” route represents a rational, low‐cost, and efficient strategy for the design and preparation of robust, hierarchical, and functional nanomaterials to meet a variety of application requirements in bio‐nanotechnologies.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Sep 10, 2018
- Source ID
- 10.1002/adma.201802306
Entities
People
- Chunmei Li
- David L. Kaplan
- Kai Jin
- Ke Zheng
- Markus J. Buehler
- Qi Wang
- Shengjie Ling
- Yanyan Zhao
- Zhao Qin
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Boston College
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- National Institutes of Health
- National Science Foundation
- Office of Naval Research
- ShanghaiTech University
- Tsinghua University
- Tufts University