Anja Mueller 
Biomimetic Nanotechnology [EPUB ebook] 
Senses and Movement

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

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