The role of geometry for adaptability: Comparison of shading systems and biological role models

Dynamic shading systems represent the majority of realised adaptive façades. It seems that geometrically complex kinetic solutions have increased in recent years, mainly due to the use of parametric design tools and digital production. In most shading systems, however, geometry rarely plays a guiding role in the design. The kinetic mechanisms...

Old yellow enzyme-catalysed asymmetric hydrogenation: Linking Family Roots with Improved Catalysis

Asymmetric hydrogenation of activated alkenes catalysed by ene-reductases from the old yellow enzyme family (OYEs) leading to chiral products is of potential interest for industrial processes. OYEs’ dependency on the pyridine nucleotide coenzyme can be circumvented through established artificial hydride donors such as nicotinamide coenzyme...

A survey of synthetic nicotinamide cofactors in enzymatic processes

Synthetic nicotinamide cofactors are analogues of the natural cofactors used by oxidoreductases as redox intermediates. Their ability to be fine-tuned makes these biomimetics an attractive alternative to the natural cofactors in terms of stability, reactivity, and cost. The following mini-review focuses on the current state of the art of...

Wasp-inspired needle insertion with low net push force

This paper outlines the development of a four-part needle prototype inspired by the ovipositor of parasitic wasps. In the wasp ovipositor, three longitudinal segments called valves move reciprocally to gain depth in the substrate. It has been suggested that serrations located along the wasp ovipositor induce a friction difference between...

Porous Network Concrete: A bio-inspired building component to make concrete structures self-healing

The high energy consumption, its corresponding emission of CO2 and financial losses due to premature failure are the pressing sustainability issues which must be tackled by the concrete infrastructure industry. Enhancement of concrete materials and durability of structures (designing new infrastructures for longer service life) is one solution...

Biomimetic Nanopores with Yeast Nucleoporins

Nuclear pore complexes (NPC’s) facilitate the exchange of macromolecules between the cytoplasm and nucleus and act as a selective barrier for macromolecules in eukaryotes. Ongoing research suggests that the discriminatory function of the NPC is caused by nucleoporins rich in phenylalanine-glycine amino acids residue repeats (FG-regions) which...

Biomimetics in Architecture: Nature inspired design

My project can be linked to the overlap between the fields of architecture and biology. The research grew out from a fascination for nature and started at the very beginning of the field of biomimetics. It is a search to intelligent solutions from nature for design problems in architecture.

Biomimicry and the Public Library

Biomimetic research to be elaborated in the design for a public library for the harbour of Scheveningen

Biomimetic Strategies in Tower Design: Towards the integration of tower subsystems

The paper argues that the tower needs to respond to its environment by changing from a closed building typology towards a heterogeneous, differentiated open system that can adapt to the changing conditions within and around it. This argument is supported by focusing on the analogies and principles of specific biological examples in order to...

Fibrous Morphologies: Integrative design and fabrication of fibre-reinforced structures in architecture using robotic filament winding

Living organisms have evolved effective structural solutions in response to the inherent constraints of their respective environments through a process of morphological adaptation. Given the fact that the majority of natural load bearing materials are fibrous composites, the authors suggest the analysis of appropriate biological role models as a...

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...

Towards the LIVING envelope: Biomimetics for building envelope adaptation

Several biomimetic design strategies are available for various applications, though the research on biomimetics as a design tool in architecture is still challenging. This is due to a lack of systematic design tools required for identifying relevant organisms, or natural systems, and abstracting the corresponding generic principles for...

Solid-state nanopores for scanning single molecules and mimicking biology

Solid-state nanopores, nanometer-size holes in a thin synthetic membrane, are a versatile tool for the detection and manipulation of charged biomolecules. This thesis describes mostly experimental work on DNA translocation through solid-state nanopores, which we study at the single-molecule level. In particular, we demonstrate length-wise ...

Flow induced by beating artificial cilia: An experimental and numerical study

Artificial cilia-driven fluid transport in microfluidic devices is a newly emerging research topic that came into focus during the last five years. Artificial cilia can be described as wall-attached elongated structures that perform an externally actuated periodic beat cycle to manipulate fluids on sub-millimeter scale. The periodic motion of...

Learning from nature: Biologically-inspired sensors

New emerging sensing applications demand novel sensors in micro-/nano-scale to enable integration and embedding into higher level structures or systems. Downsizing the structure will usually decrease the sensitivity of the sensors, since the sensitivity is a function of geometrical parameters, e.g. mass in the case of inertial sensing, and...