Bio-inspired Material Design

Metal-coordination bonds, a highly-tunable class of dynamic non-covalent interactions are pivotal to the function of a variety of protein-based natural materials like mussel byssal thread fibers or abrasion resistant arthropod mandibles. However, little is known about their fundamental behavior and what design principles are used in biological materials to create tunable, strong and tough materials. How is it possible to create resilient materials out of highly fluctuating bonds? In this paper led by Eesha Khare, and in collaboration with Kerstin Blank, David Kaplan and Niels Holten-Andersen, we study the intriguing mechanics of this class of bonds, focused specifically on size effects and a careful analysis of mechanisms using a joint computational-experimental analysis. We specifically explore an intriguing feature of biology's use of metal-coordination bonds, bond clustering, rather than relying on individual bonds. The work uncovered key binding motifs to produce strong, tough, and self-healing bioinspired materials for many potential applications in engineering. We rationally designed a series of elastin-like polypeptide templates with the capability of forming an increasing number of intermolecular histidine-Ni2+ metal-coordination bonds. Using single-molecule force spectroscopy and steered molecular dynamics simulations, we show that templates with three histidine residues exhibit heterogeneous rupture pathways, including the simultaneous rupture of at least two bonds with more-than-additive rupture forces. The methodology and insights developed improve our understanding of the molecular interactions that stabilize metal-coordinated proteins and provide a general route for the design of new strong, metal-coordinated materials with a broad spectrum of dissipative timescales. A highlight of this work was the amazing collaboration between four labs. Thank you Kerstin Blank for hosting Eesha Khare at the Max Planck Institute for Colloids and Interfaces where she did the experimental work! Paper: https://lnkd.in/ebYVPz3D Khare, E., Gonzalez Obeso, C., Martín-Moldes, Z., Talib, A., Kaplan, D. L., Holten-Andersen, N., Blank, K. G., & Buehler, M. J. (2024). Heterogeneous and Cooperative Rupture of Histidine–Ni2+ Metal-Coordination Bonds on Rationally Designed Protein Templates. ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering. American Chemical Society https://lnkd.in/e-ANrjzM

India’s BioCura brick grows stronger with every rainstorm. In Bengaluru, engineers have pioneered a living building material that doesn’t just withstand the elements—it heals itself. BioCura is made from crushed stone, waste ash, and genetically engineered bacteria. When rainwater activates the dormant spores inside, they begin producing calcium carbonate—the same substance corals use to build reefs. The result is a self-repairing brick that seals its own cracks and strengthens over time. In lab simulations of five monsoon seasons, BioCura retained 98% of its structural integrity, while traditional concrete dropped to 61%. Even more impressive: the bricks absorb CO₂ during curing, are carbon-negative, and require 85% less energy to produce than standard fired clay bricks. Builders in Kerala and Maharashtra are already piloting the technology in flood-prone zones. This is more than a material innovation—it’s a reimagining of the built environment. A future where our cities can adapt, evolve, and even heal themselves. #sustainability #circulareconomy #design

We are excited to share our project: Eco-Resilient Tectonics: Living Building Materials in Multi-Species Earthen Construction, developed at the Computational Tectonics Lab, School of Architecture, University of Virginia. This research embeds mycelium (Pleurotus ostreatus) and radish (Raphanus sativus) into robotically 3D-printed soil structures, exploring how construction can become regenerative, ecologically embedded, and adaptive to changing environments. Read the full paper: https://lnkd.in/eSi8u4DR Presented at: – ACSA 113th Annual Meeting (2025) – ACSA/AIA Intersections Research Conference (2023) , and forthcoming in peer-reviewed conference proceedings. Key contributions include: • Bio-integrated, 3D-printed earth structures • Mycelium-based insulation and resilience • Radish-enabled surface greening • Architecture as a living, self-healing system We hope this work contributes to the growing discourse on ecological design, biological fabrication, and living materials in architecture. How might buildings evolve to become more like ecosystems? Thanks to my student research assistants at the Computational Tectonics Lab for pushing this research forward: I. Datta, A. Edson, M. Hsu, J. Jackson, E. Sobel, and T. Summers. Design and Images © Ehsan Baharlou, Computational Tectonics Lab The University of Virginia School of Architecture #LivingBuildingMaterials #SustainableArchitecture #MyceliumResearch #DigitalFabrication #EcoResilientTectonics #RegenerativeArchitecture #BioDesign #3DPrintedConstruction #ACSA2025 #ArchitectureResearch #MyceliumArchitecture #EcologicalDesign

🚀 Can biology build our future homes on Mars? Transporting bulky materials from Earth to create extraterrestrial habitats has long seemed unavoidable - and expensive. But what if we could grow our way there? A recent paper explored an alternative paradigm: using biologically generated materials to fabricate habitats in situ. Common biomaterials - bioplastics, algal matrices - can block harmful UV, let visible light through, and preserve water in vacuum-like conditions. As proof of concept, researchers 3D-printed a PLA bioplastic dome and successfully grew eukaryotic green alga inside it under Mars-relevant conditions: 600 Pa CO₂, low pressure. The takeaway? Biology isn’t just a passenger in space exploration - it’s an architect. A scalable, sustainable pathway for crafting future human habitats beyond Earth might lie in the ingenuity of life itself. 🌱 Future homes on Mars could start with a petri dish.

The iconic 180-metre-tall 30 St Mary Axe, better known as the Gherkin, did not take its inspiration from a pickled vegetable. Its form and performance were shaped by a marine organism, the Venus flower basket sponge, making it a clear example of biomimicry in modern engineering. How cool is that? Biomimicry is the design of materials, structures and systems modelled on biological forms and processes that have evolved to be efficient and resilient. The sponge’s skeleton is formed from a repeating hexagonal lattice. This geometry is exceptionally stiff for its weight and allows fluids to pass through it with minimal resistance. The Gherkin’s steel exoskeleton follows a similar logic, using a diagonal grid that wraps the entire building. That diagrid does more than define the appearance. It carries structural loads efficiently, allowing large column-free floor plates and a fully glazed façade that brings daylight deep into the building. The tapered, rounded shape also plays an important aerodynamic role. Wind flows smoothly around the tower rather than separating violently as it would around a conventional rectangular office block, reducing wind loads and lateral deflection. Those pressure differences are harnessed for ventilation. The building was designed to breathe, with gaps between floors that form vertical air paths, allowing fresh air to move upward through the structure. A double skin façade creates an insulating buffer of air. In winter, passive solar gains help warm this layer. In summer, warmer air is drawn out by external pressure differences, pulling cooler air in behind it. This upward flow of air mirrors the way water and nutrients move through the Venus flower basket sponge. In practice, the building relies more heavily on mechanical systems than originally intended, but the biological logic remains embedded in the design. One final detail often surprises people: Despite the building’s curved profile, almost every pane of glass is flat. The only truly curved piece is the lens at the very top of the panoramic dome. It is a rare case where architectural form, structural engineering and environmental performance all trace back to a lesson learned from nature. - 🔔 I post daily on engineering and infrastructure, or the company we are building over at EPCM. If that is your thing, follow me or check out my blog (link under my profile photo) I never use AI visuals /Biomimicry of the London Gherkin Skyscraper

Living walls are not decoration 🌿🏢 What if facades could cool cities instead of heating them? Most buildings are designed to resist nature. Now, new materials are being designed to host it. Bio-receptive concrete - piloted by companies like Respyre - is engineered to support moss growth directly on vertical surfaces, without irrigation systems or heavy structural add-ons. Here’s how it works ⬇️ ➡️ Micro-texture anchors spores naturally ➡️ Applied as non-loadbearing facade layer ➡️ Often produced with high recycled content ➡️ Requires minimal maintenance once established ➡️ Porous surface retains moisture for colonization Why this matters: – Buffers rainwater during peak events – Captures airborne particulate pollution – Adds biodiversity to dense urban cores – Reduces surface heat via evaporative cooling – Lowers maintenance vs. conventional green walls – Shifts facades from passive to functional systems This is not about aesthetic greenery, it’s about thermal logic and material intelligence. Not a silver bullet, but a signal. Architecture is slowly moving, from sealed surfaces to responsive skins. 💡 Would you integrate living materials into your projects? Video credits to the respective owners. Shared for educational purposes only. 👉 Join the reading layer for sustainability leaders. Signals. Context. Foresight. https://lnkd.in/dpq3VbRR 🔁 REPOST if you believe buildings should work with nature, not against it. #greenbuildings #sustainablearchitecture #urbancooling #climateresilience #ecodesign

In a leap toward next-generation implants, scientists have engineered a transparent bioceramic material that mimics the intricate architecture of real bone down to the nanoscale. Using prenucleation clusters—the same molecular precursors found in natural bone—they’ve crafted a calcium phosphate resin capable of not just supporting the body, but fusing with it. This breakthrough could transform implants from passive hardware into active, living scaffolds that regenerate bone from the inside out. https://lnkd.in/eS92h5JB FuturistSpeaker.com

Bone-Inspired Concrete: A Tougher Future for Construction 🏗️ Researchers have designed a new type of concrete, drawing inspiration from the structure of human bones. This material is 5.6 times more resistant to damage than traditional concrete, promising a revolution in construction durability. The innovation lies in embedding tubular structures within the cement, mimicking the way bone deflects cracks. This unique design allows the concrete to handle progressive damage, avoiding sudden failures often seen in brittle materials. This advancement matters because it can significantly enhance the safety and longevity of infrastructures, making buildings more resilient. Stay informed, stay curious! 🌐📚 Science never ceases to amaze! 🌟✨ #ConstructionInnovation #MaterialScience #BioInspired #Sustainability DOI: 10.1002/adma.202313904 https://lnkd.in/gbpEJm5g Research Institutions: Princeton University Shashank Gupta, Reza Moini

Massachusetts Institute of Technology engineers have drawn inspiration from mobula rays to enhance water filter designs. These rays filter plankton using comb-like plates in their mouths, achieving an optimal balance of permeability and selectivity that allows them to feed and breathe simultaneously. The researchers used additive manufacturing to create a simple filter mimicking the ray’s grooved plates, enabling precise replication and testing of the bioinspired design. Experiments showed that at higher flow rates, vortices formed between the grooves, trapping particles while allowing water to pass—similar to how rays capture plankton. This insight led to a blueprint for designing filters that leverage vortices for better performance. #additivemanufacturing #3dprinting #water #waterfilter #design #naturaldesign #BioinspiredDesign #EngineeringInnovation #WaterFiltration #MITResearch #3DPrinting #NatureInspired #CleanWaterTech #MechanicalEngineering #SustainableTech #MantaRayScience