Bioengineering materials: insights into smart materials designs

We have focused our research on biologically derived materials to gain insight into new types of materials with novel functions and new assembly and processing methods associated with these materials. Biological systems offer prototypical capabilities in sensing and responding to the environmental changes. The material designs, synthesis, regulation and assembly involved in these sensing and response processes should offer materials engineers incredible opportunities in the molecular-level design of new 'smart' materials with functions not achievable today. Specific examples are cited from our own studies that explore the biosynthesis, processing and properties of novel biological materials. It is our expectation that through the elucidation of the nature of these materials and the processes by which these materials are formed that new directions to the design of 'smart' functions may be garnered.