Biomimetic Design Principles Research Articles

Exploring Biomimetic Heat Pipes for Space Radiator Enhancement

This study investigates biomimetic heat pipes for space radiator applications, utilizing nature-inspired structures to potentially enhance heat transfer efficiency. The research addresses the imperative for improved heat dissipation mechanisms in nuclear space systems, crucial for effective thermal management. Heat pipes are passive heat transfer devices widely adopted for thermal control. The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a biomimetic heat pipe design in comparison to a traditional design while also validating the fabrication process through industry-made heat pipe comparisons. Innovative hot oil bath testing methods are employed to fabricate and test both heat pipe types, utilizing comprehensive thermal analysis, physical experiments, and validation techniques to assess heat transfer capabilities. Tests span varying temperature levels to analyze heat pipe behavior and performance. Findings suggest the potential for enhanced heat dissipation along the length of the biomimetic heat pipe, hinting at the biomimetic structure’s role in improving heat transfer. This study underscores the promise of biomimetic design principles and their potential for advancing heat pipe technology. Recommendations for further exploration include alternative materials, optimized testing procedures, and refined fabrication processes.

Biomimetic Hydrogel Strategies for Cancer Therapy.

Recent developments in biomimetic hydrogel research have expanded the scope of biomedical technologies that can be used to model, diagnose, and treat a wide range of medical conditions. Cancer presents one of the most intractable challenges in this arena due to the surreptitious mechanisms that it employs to evade detection and treatment. In order to address these challenges, biomimetic design principles can be adapted to beat cancer at its own game. Biomimetic design strategies are inspired by natural biological systems and offer promising opportunities for developing life-changing methods to model, detect, diagnose, treat, and cure various types of static and metastatic cancers. In particular, focusing on the cellular and subcellular phenomena that serve as fundamental drivers for the peculiar behavioral traits of cancer can provide rich insights into eradicating cancer in all of its manifestations. This review highlights promising developments in biomimetic nanocomposite hydrogels that contribute to cancer therapies via enhanced drug delivery strategies and modeling cancer mechanobiology phenomena in relation to metastasis and synergistic sensing systems. Creative efforts to amplify biomimetic design research to advance the development of more effective cancer therapies will be discussed in alignment with international collaborative goals to cure cancer.

Dual-graded lattice with mechanical bionics to enhance fatigue performance

Additive manufacturing (AM) is revolutionizing the design and fabrication of orthopedic implants, enabling the creation of complex graded structures to enhance biomechanical bionics. This study aims to enhance fatigue life and reduce stress shielding for a long-term stability by using functionally graded lattice. Various lattice with minimal surface, including uniform array, Z-axis graded, and dual-graded Gyroid, were designed and fabricated by selective laser melting (SLM), followed by mechanical and fatigue tests for validation of design objectives. With a novel Sigmoid-Boltzmann fusion algorithm, the dual-graded lattice enhances the artificial vertebral body (AVB) with an 11 % increase in strength, >200 % improvement in fatigue life and reduced stress shielding on the contact surface, benefiting long-term implant stability and biomechanical fidelity. It displayed outstanding resistance to fatigue crack propagation due to superior load-bearing capacity and energy absorption capabilities contributed by the graded central region. The findings highlight the significance of biomimetic design principles and offer insights into the optimization of orthopedic implants using dual-graded lattice.

Bioinspired sensing-memory-computing integrated vision systems: biomimetic mechanisms, design principles, and applications

Bioinspired sensing-memory-computing integrated vision systems: biomimetic mechanisms, design principles, and applications

Synergizing Zoological Research and AI in Business: Unveiling Biological Strategies for Sustainable Innovation

This paper explores the symbiotic relationship between zoological research and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven business management, elucidating how their integration can unlock profound biological insights with transformative implications for various industries. With advancements in AI technologies and an increasing emphasis on sustainability, businesses are increasingly turning to interdisciplinary approaches to optimize operations and enhance decision-making processes. Leveraging insights from zoological research, which encompasses the study of diverse animal species and their ecological interactions, presents a novel avenue for innovation and strategic development in the business landscape. The integration of zoological research with AI-driven business management offers multifaceted benefits. Firstly, it provides businesses with a deeper understanding of complex biological systems, facilitating informed decision-making regarding resource management, product development, and sustainability initiatives. Zoological studies offer insights into the intricate interdependencies within ecosystems, shedding light on ecological dynamics, species behaviors, and evolutionary patterns. By integrating these insights into AI algorithms, businesses can develop predictive models to anticipate environmental changes, species migrations, and biodiversity trends, thereby enhancing resilience and adaptive capacity. Furthermore, the synergy between zoological research and AI enables businesses to optimize processes across various domains, ranging from supply chain management to customer engagement. For instance, by analyzing animal foraging behaviors and social structures, businesses can derive inspiration for efficient routing algorithms, inventory optimization strategies, and collaborative network designs. Moreover, AI-driven data analytics can streamline market research efforts by identifying consumer preferences, market trends, and emerging opportunities, drawing parallels with animal behavior studies that elucidate patterns of resource utilization and adaptation. In addition to operational enhancements, the integration of zoological insights with AI-driven business management fosters innovation and product development. By studying biological adaptations and evolutionary processes, businesses can derive inspiration for biomimetic design principles, leading to the creation of sustainable materials, energy-efficient technologies, and biologically inspired innovations. Moreover, by leveraging AI techniques such as machine learning and natural language processing, businesses can analyze vast datasets of biological literature and ecological observations to identify novel bioactive compounds, genetic sequences, and ecological niches with commercial potential. Importantly, the incorporation of zoological research into AI-driven business management fosters a paradigm shift towards holistic and ethical business practices. By recognizing the interconnectedness of ecological systems and economic activities, businesses can develop strategies that prioritize environmental stewardship, biodiversity conservation, and social responsibility. Zoological insights inform businesses about the intrinsic value of biodiversity, highlighting the importance of preserving natural habitats, protecting endangered species, and mitigating anthropogenic impacts on ecosystems. Through AI-powered simulations and scenario analyses, businesses can assess the long-term consequences of their decisions on ecological integrity, societal well-being, and corporate reputation, fostering a culture of responsible innovation and sustainable growth. However, the integration of zoological research with AI-driven business management also poses challenges and ethical considerations. Ensuring the ethical treatment of animals in research and development processes, safeguarding data privacy and security, and addressing biases in AI algorithms are paramount concerns that require interdisciplinary collaboration and stakeholder engagement. Moreover, fostering inclusivity and diversity in both scientific research and business leadership is essential for promoting equitable outcomes and fostering innovation. In conclusion, the integration of zoological research with AI-driven business management holds immense potential for unlocking biological insights and driving sustainable innovation in diverse industries. By bridging the gap between biological sciences and business practices, this interdisciplinary approach offers a pathway towards a more resilient, adaptive, and ethically conscious future. Through collaborative efforts among scientists, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and community stakeholders, we can harness the power of nature-inspired solutions to address complex challenges and create positive societal impact.

Enhancing Heat Storage Cooling Systems via the Implementation of Honeycomb-Inspired Design: Investigating Efficiency and Performance

This study presents a novel approach inspired by the hexagonal honeycomb structure found in nature, leveraging image processing algorithms to precisely define complex geometries in thermal systems. Hexagonal phase change material containers and thermally conductive fins were meticulously delineated, mirroring the intricate real-world designs of honeycombs. This innovative methodology not only streamlines setup processes but also enhances our understanding of melting dynamics within enclosures, highlighting the potential benefits of biomimetic design principles in engineering applications. Two distinct honeycomb structures were employed to investigate their impact on the melting process within cavities subject to heating from the left wall, with the remaining walls treated as adiabatic surfaces. The incorporation of a thermally conductive fin system within the enclosure significantly reduced the time required for a complete phase change, emphasizing the profound influence of fin systems on thermal design and performance. This enhancement in heat transfer dynamics makes fin systems advantageous for applications prioritizing precise temperature control and expedited phase change processes. Furthermore, the critical role of the fin system design was emphasized, influencing both the onset and location of the final point of melting. This underscores the importance of tailoring fin systems to specific applications to optimize their performance. Our study highlights the significant impact of the Rayleigh (Ra) number on the melting time in a cavity without fins, revealing a decrease from 6 to 0.4 as the Ra increased from 102 to 105; the introduction of a fin system uniformly reduced the melting time to Ste.Fo = 0.5, indicating fins’ universal effectiveness in optimizing thermal dynamics and expediting the melting process. Moreover, the cavity angle was found to significantly affect the fluid fraction diagram in unfanned cavities but had minimal impact when fins were present, highlighting the stabilizing role of fins in mitigating gravitational effects during melting processes. These insights expand our understanding of cavity geometry and fin interactions in heat transfer, offering potential for enhanced thermal system designs in various engineering applications. Decreasing thermal conductivity (λ) by increasing the fin thickness can halve the melting time, but the accompanying disadvantages include a heavier system and reduced energy storage due to less phase change material, necessitating a careful balance in decision-making.

Biomimetic Approaches to Sustainable Commercial Buildings in Nigeria: Adaptation from Natural Ecosystem

The construction and operation of commercial buildings in Nigeria pose significant challenges to sustainability, characterized by high resource consumption, energy inefficiency, and environmental degradation. This paper introduces the concept of biomimicry as a promising approach to address these challenges by drawing inspiration from nature's designs and processes (Benyus, 1997). It highlights the urgent need to transition towards environmentally conscious practices within the construction industry to mitigate the adverse impacts of commercial building activities on the environment. The study aims to explore and analyze biomimetic principles applicable to sustainable building design such as inspirations from termite mounds and rainforest canopies, evaluate their potential impact on commercial buildings in Nigeria, and propose practical applications tailored to the country's unique environmental, social, and economic contexts. The key findings of the study indicate that integrating biomimetic design principles into the construction and operation of commercial buildings in Nigeria can result in enhanced energy efficiency and a decreased environmental footprint. Biomimetic approaches inspired by natural systems, such as the temperature regulation of termite mounds (Billings, 2013), can inform the design of passive heating and cooling systems, leading to reduced energy consumption. Similarly, biomimetic designs can improve ventilation, water management, and insulation, minimizing the overall environmental impact of commercial buildings. The research provides actionable insights for architects, engineers, and policymakers, enabling them to design and construct commercial buildings that seamlessly integrate with the environment.

Development of Two-Step Biomimetic Design and Evaluation Framework for Performance-Oriented Design of Multi-Functional Adaptable Building Envelopes

Climate change, increase in CO2 production and energy consumption are major global issues and the building, environmental and construction sector is contributing to the increasing concern day by day. Due to increasing demands to satisfy environmental, social, and economic requirements, designing efficient and sustainable buildings has become increasingly complex. Today, the tendency towards sustainability has created new design approaches regarding adaptable kinetic building envelopes, amongst all, biomimetic design principles have gained interest. As opposed to traditional methods, the implemented biomimetic design approach in this research can assist in finding solutions for complex real-life problems regarding the adaptability of kinetic facades to achieve robustness, tractability, low solution cost and better rapport with reality. Design frameworks introduced to this day either do not incorporate bio-inspired concepts or are not able to map potential trade-offs in the performance of multi-functional biomimetic adaptable skins, effectively. Therefore, a flexible and expandable framework is necessary to go beyond project-based frameworks applied to case specific conditions. To design for performance, this research proposes a framework and aims to integrate different biomimetic approaches to assist designers and researchers in two steps to design and evaluate kinetic facades in different phases of development.

Biomimetic Design Considerations for 3D-Printed Joints

3D-printing innovations are being explored as a uniting framework for the future of individualized joint replacement. The ability to convert 2D medical images to adjustable 3D models means a patient’s own anatomy can serve as the foundation for implant design. There are three biomimetic design considerations to understand the research on these new implants. First, optimizing the unit cell of 3D models can give researchers the essential building block necessary to 3D print reliable artificial joints. Second, adequate porosity when designing a 3D-printed biomimetic joint is a balance between strength and the need for osseointegration. Third, functionally graded material as a design principle connects unit cell and porosity to create a 3D-printed product with complex properties along different spacial axes. 3D printing offers the opportunity to incorporate biomimetic design principles that were previously unobtainable with traditional manufacturing methods.

The Future of Neuroscience: Flexible and Wireless Implantable Neural Electronics.

Neurological diseases are a prevalent cause of global mortality and are of growing concern when considering an ageing global population. Traditional treatments are accompanied by serious side effects including repeated treatment sessions, invasive surgeries, or infections. For example, in the case of deep brain stimulation, large, stiff, and battery powered neural probes recruit thousands of neurons with each pulse, and can invoke a vigorous immune response. This paper presents challenges in engineering and neuroscience in developing miniaturized and biointegrated alternatives, in the form of microelectrode probes. Progress in design and topology of neural implants has shifted the goal post toward highly specific recording and stimulation, targeting small groups of neurons and reducing the foreign body response with biomimetic design principles. Implantable device design recommendations, fabrication techniques, and clinical evaluation of the impact flexible, integrated probes will have on the treatment of neurological disorders are provided in this report. The choice of biocompatible material dictates fabrication techniques as novel methods reduce the complexity of manufacture. Wireless power, the final hurdle to truly implantable neural interfaces, is discussed. These aspects are the driving force behind continued research: significant breakthroughs in any one of these areas will revolutionize the treatment of neurological disorders.

Morphogenesis of a bundled tall building: Biomimetic, structural, and wind‐energy design of a multi‐core‐outrigger system combined with diagrid

SummarySkyscrapers are among the most distinctive building types of the modern age. Since many resources are attributed to these buildings, their design should consider a proper performance‐based construction economy and environmental sustainable development. This research introduces a new concept for a bundled tall building founded on the use of a multi‐core‐outrigger system, which is additionally enriched with diagrid structures. The concept is inspired by the bamboo plant and follows the biomimetic design principles for the structural organization and performance‐based criteria for optimizing the lateral stiffness and for shaping the cross section. Particularly, the incident wind speed is maximized to exploit Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWTs), which are located along the whole building height at the center of the bundled towers. The building morphogenesis is accomplished by a multistep methodology that is fully developed in a parametric environment and includes structural and computational fluid dynamic analyses. With the aim of validating the proposed concept, a case study of a 320‐m‐tall three‐core building has been designed for the city of Pisa, Italy. The use of VAWTs results in an annual emissions reduction of about 10 kgCO2/m2.

The mechanism of resistance-reducing/anti-adhesion and its application on biomimetic disc furrow opener.

The black soil of Northeast China is sticky and agglomerates easily, which often adheres to the surface of a traditional furrow opener during the furrowing process. In this paper, biomimetic design principles in resistance-reducing, anti-adhesion and resistance-reducing mechanism of biomimetic disc furrow opener were studied. Nine kinds of singular convex hull, nine kinds of singular wedge and nine kinds of mixed convex hull and wedge structural biomimetic disc furrow opener were designed, and the furrowing process with the soil simulated by finite element method (FEM).Three types of biomimetic disc furrow opener with less resistance were manufactured by laser processing for comparative test in soil bin based on the simulation results. The test results showed that the resistance of the biomimetic disc furrow opener was less than that of the ordinary disc. The soil-disc stress, influence of biomimetic structures, moisture content and furrow speeds on resistance were discussed. The resistance-reducing rate of D-BC-3 reached the maximum value 15.36% at the furrow speed of 0.6 m/s and the soil moisture content of 20%. It is believed that the biomimetic design principles can provide the significant inspirations for the future design of disc furrow opener with drag reduction.

Combining tracer studies and biomimetic design principles to investigate clogging in constructed wetlands

In this study, we suggest a clogging maintenance strategy and design alteration for constructed wetlands. Such a system could benefit rural communities who rely solely on constructed wetland systems for provision of household and agricultural water and for whom regular system shut-down for maintenance is essentially not viable. A newly established, pilot-scale horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland was investigated by means of step-change tracer experiments. Sampling was carried out at multiple points down the length of the wetland and at three depths for each location. The mean residence time datawere used to generate velocity profiles. This methodology enabled the development of a three-dimensional hydraulic model to identify dead zones and regions of short-circuiting within the system. Biomimetic principles were then incorporated to propose improvements to conventional constructed wetland design, which would potentially allow for better clogging management and continuous operation. In particular, modularizing the regions of the wetland most prone to clogging (those containing dead space) would accommodate isolation, removal and replacement of such sections, while still allowing treatment of wastewater in adjacent sections.

Bioinspired 3D Printable Soft Vacuum Actuators for Locomotion Robots, Grippers and Artificial Muscles.

Continued technological progress in robotic systems has led to more applications where robots and humans operate in close proximity and even physical contact in some cases. Soft robots, which are made of highly compliant and deformable materials, provide inherent safety features unlike conventional robots that are made of stiff and rigid components. Soft robotics is a rapidly developing field exploiting biomimetic design principles, novel sensor and actuation concepts, and advanced manufacturing techniques. In this study, we propose novel 3D printable soft vacuum actuators that are inspired by the sporangium of fern trees. These actuators that are directly manufactured using commercial and affordable fused deposition modeling 3D printers offer many advantages such as high actuation speed (5.54 Hz), long lifetime (123,000 cycles), large payload to weight ratio (∼26), and significant output forces (∼16 N). The behavior of these actuators is accurately predicted, and their performance is optimized using finite element modeling. Furthermore, diverse robotic applications such as locomotion robots (a walking robot moving with an average forward speed of vf = 3.54 cm/s, and a hopping robot called Gongaroo hopping with an average speed of vf = 3.75 cm/s), grippers, and artificial muscles have been established and activated using the new soft actuation concept. Finally, to demonstrate the modularity of the proposed actuation concept, soft actuators with multiple degrees of freedom and variable length are established using a series of 3D printable vacuum hinges.

Remote Loading of Small-Molecule Therapeutics into Cholesterol-Enriched Cell-Membrane-Derived Vesicles.

The increasing popularity of biomimetic design principles in nanomedicine has led to therapeutic platforms with enhanced performance and biocompatibility. This includes the use of naturally derived cell membranes, which can bestow nanocarriers with cell-specific functionalities. Herein, we report on a strategy enabling efficient encapsulation of drugs via remote loading into membrane vesicles derived from red blood cells. This is accomplished by supplementing the membrane with additional cholesterol, stabilizing the nanostructure and facilitating the retention of a pH gradient. We demonstrate the loading of two model drugs: the chemotherapeutic doxorubicin and the antibiotic vancomycin. The therapeutic implications of these natural, remote-loaded nanoformulations are studied both in vitro and in vivo using animal disease models. Ultimately, this approach could be used to design new biomimetic nanoformulations with higher efficacy and improved safety profiles.

Remote Loading of Small‐Molecule Therapeutics into Cholesterol‐Enriched Cell‐Membrane‐Derived Vesicles

AbstractThe increasing popularity of biomimetic design principles in nanomedicine has led to therapeutic platforms with enhanced performance and biocompatibility. This includes the use of naturally derived cell membranes, which can bestow nanocarriers with cell‐specific functionalities. Herein, we report on a strategy enabling efficient encapsulation of drugs via remote loading into membrane vesicles derived from red blood cells. This is accomplished by supplementing the membrane with additional cholesterol, stabilizing the nanostructure and facilitating the retention of a pH gradient. We demonstrate the loading of two model drugs: the chemotherapeutic doxorubicin and the antibiotic vancomycin. The therapeutic implications of these natural, remote‐loaded nanoformulations are studied both in vitro and in vivo using animal disease models. Ultimately, this approach could be used to design new biomimetic nanoformulations with higher efficacy and improved safety profiles.

Integrating Mussel Chemistry into a Bio-Based Polymer to Create Degradable Adhesives

Adhesives releasing carcinogenic formaldehyde are almost everywhere in our homes and offices. Most of these glues are permanent, preventing disassembly and recycling of the components. New materials are thus needed to bond and debond without releasing reactive pollutants. In order to develop the next generation of advanced adhesives we have turned to biology for inspiration. The bonding chemistry of mussel proteins was combined with preformed poly(lactic acid), a bio-based polymer, by utilizing side reactions of Sn(oct)2, to create catechol-containing copolymers. Structure–function studies revealed that bulk adhesion was comparable to that of several petroleum-based commercial glues. Bonds could then be degraded in a controlled fashion, separating substrates gradually using mild hydrolysis conditions. These results show that biomimetic design principles can bring about the next generation of adhesive materials. Such new copolymers may help replace permanent materials with renewable and degradable adhesive...

Aligned bioinspired cellulose nanocrystal-based nanocomposites with synergetic mechanical properties and improved hygromechanical performance.

Natural high-performance materials inspire the pursuit of ordered hard/soft nanocomposite structures at high fractions of reinforcements and with balanced supramolecular interactions. Such biomimetic design principles remain difficult to realize for bulk nanocomposites. Herein, we establish an effective drawing procedure that induces a high orientation of crystalline cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) in a matrix of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) at high level of reinforcements (50 vol %). We show such alignment in rather thick bulk films and report synergetic improvement with a simultaneous increase of stiffness, strength, and work-to-fracture as a function of the degree of alignment. Scanning electron microscopy and two-dimensional X-ray diffraction quantify the alignment of the cylindrical nanoparticles and link it to the extent of drawing and improvements in mechanical properties. We further show that the decline in mechanical properties of such waterborne all biobased nanocomposites at high relative humidity can be balanced using supramolecular modulation of the ionic interactions by exchanging the monovalent Na(+) counterion, present in CMC and CNC with di- or trivalent Cu(2+) and Fe(3+). This contribution demonstrates the importance of aligning one-dimensional reinforcements to achieve synergetic improvement in mechanical properties in sustainable bioinspired nanocomposites and suggests pathways to prepare water-stable materials based on a waterborne processing route.

Fibrous structures: An integrative approach to design computation, simulation and fabrication for lightweight, glass and carbon fibre composite structures in architecture based on biomimetic design principles

In this paper the authors present research into an integrative computational design methodology for the design and robotic implementation of fibre-composite systems. The proposed approach is based on the concurrent and reciprocal integration of biological analysis, material design, structural analysis, and the constraints of robotic filament winding within a coherent computational design process. A particular focus is set on the development of specific tools and solvers for the generation, simulation and optimization of the fibre layout and their feedback into the global morphology of the system. The methodology demonstrates how fibre reinforced composites can be arranged and processed in order to meet the specific requirements of architectural design and building construction. This was further tested through the design and fabrication of a full-scale architectural prototype.

From Nature to Fabrication: Biomimetic Design Principles for the Production of Complex Spatial Structures

In the current paper the authors present a biomimetic design methodology based on the analysis of the Echinoids (sea urchin and sand dollar) and the transfer of its structural morphology into a built full-scale prototype. In the first part, an efficient wood jointing technique for planar sheets of wood through novel robotically fabricated finger-joints is introduced together with an investigation of the biological principles of plate structures and their mechanical features. Subsequently, the identified structural principles are translated and verified with the aid of a Finite Element Model, as well as a generative design system incorporating the rules and constraints of fabrication. The paper concludes with the presentation of a full-scale biomimetic prototype which integrates these morphological and mechanical principles to achieve an efficient and high-performing lightweight structure.