Biomimetic Nanotechnology

Anja Mueller, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, MI, USA.

lt;p>I. Introduction
- Why copy nature?
- Nature through the eyes of an engineer

II. Introduction to Materials Science
- Scale of Atoms, Molecules, Cells, Polymers
- Mechanical strength
- Material characterization techniques

III. Introduction to Nanotechnology
- The effect of size on properties such as mechanical properties and flow
- Bulk forces vs. surface forces
-Microfluidics
-Ion lithography
- Characterization techniques for nano-sized materials

IV. Introduction to biology in the molecular scale
- Tissues, cells, and cell components
- Neurons
- Protein structure - activity
- Transport in blood, cells, and across membranes
- Signal transduction

V. Molecular motors
- Energy conversion into force and movement in the body
- Structure and function of molecular motors
ATP synthesis
DNA packing
- Flagella
- Use of molecular motors in devices
- Nanosized motors mimicking biological molecular motors

VI. Vision
- Human vision - light to electrical signal conversion
- Photoelectric sensor using rhodopsin
- Nanosized light switches mimicking biological vision

VII. Smell and Taste
- Human smell and taste - chemical to electrical signal conversion
- Artificial nose/tongue using the same conversion principles
- Artificial nose/tongue mimicking the same function
- Artificial nose with neurons, mimicking sense and recognition

VIII. Skin, the biggest organ in the body
- Skin functions - protection, recognition and defense, recognition and transport, sensor(touch, temperature)
- Structure - function relationship in skin
- Nanosized materials mimicking skin's protection mechanism
- Drug delivery mimicking transport and release upon signal
- Nanomaterials reacting upon environmental changes with transport or release

IX. Future Developments