Open AccessMimicking biological functionality with polymers for biomedical applications
Author(s) -
Jordan J. Green,
Jennifer Elisseeff
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
nature
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 15.993
H-Index - 1226
eISSN - 1476-4687
pISSN - 0028-0836
DOI - 10.1038/nature21005
Subject(s) - nanotechnology , biological materials , computer science , biochemical engineering , human–computer interaction , materials science , engineering
The vast opportunities for biomaterials design and functionality enabled by mimicking nature continue to stretch the limits of imagination. As both biological understanding and engineering capabilities develop, more sophisticated biomedical materials can be synthesized that have multifaceted chemical, biological and physical characteristics designed to achieve specific therapeutic goals. Mimicry is being used in the design of polymers for biomedical applications that are required locally in tissues, systemically throughout the body, and at the interface with tissues.