Self-healing processes in plants: A treasure trove for biomimetic self-repairing materials

After an artificial injury in succulent leaves of Delosperma cooperi and Delosperma ecklonis rapid wound sealing by deformation of the entire leaf takes place within approximately 90 minutes. On the basis of comparative anatomical and biomechanical analyses of the closely related species conclusions can be drawn on necessary boundary conditions...

Plants as concept generators for biomimetic self-healing and self-adaptive materials, structures and surfaces

Plants have inspired the development of numerous novel (self-)adaptive and selfhealing materials, structures and surfaces over the last decade. Examples include: (1) self-repairing elastomers for sealing gaskets and dampers inspired by self-healing processes in latex bearing plants, (2) self-adaptive biomimetic attachment systems inspired by...