Abstract

The approach used by Materials Science and Engineering is revealing new aspects in the structure and properties of biological materials. The integration of advanced characterization, mechanical testing, and modeling methods can rationalize heretofore unexplained aspects of these structures. The nascent areas of Biological Materials Science and Mechanobiology encompass three thrusts: • Biological (or natural) materials: materials that comprise cells, extracellular material, organs, and organisms. • Biomaterials: synthetic materials used to correct, repair, or supplement natural functions in organisms. • Bioinspired design: this area encompasses the materials and structures inspired in biological systems and/or functions. We demonstrate the power of this methodology with examples from our research: biomineralization and toughness of shells, avian beaks and feathers, fish scales, and osteoderms. We illustrate bioinspired applications with a few selected applications: Velcro, ceramic-polymer composites inspired on abalone nacre, and synthetic attachment devices inspired on the gecko. Marc André Meyers, is Distinguished Professor in the Departments of Nanoengineering, and Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, U. of California, San Diego. His research field is the mechanical behavior of materials. Within this field, he has focused on three areas: dynamic behavior of materials; nanocrystalline materials; and biological materials. He is the author of three books: Mechanical Metallurgy (with K. Chawla); Dynamic Behavior of Materials, and Mechanical Behavior of Materials (with K. Chawla). He is Fellow of TMS , APS, and ASM International and is the 2010 recipient of the Acta Materialia Materials and Society Award. Additionally, he has awards from Europe (Humboldt Society Senior Scientist Award and J. S. Rinehart Award from the EURODYMAT Association), China (Lee Hsun Lecture Award from the Institute of Metal Research; Visiting Professor, Chinese Academy of Sciences) and the US (SMD/TMS Distinguished Scientist and Distinguished Service Awards, ASM International Albert Sauveur Award). He is the co-recipient of the JOM (TMS) 2010 best paper award in structural materials and is a member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences. Marc Meyers also writes fiction and is the author of Abscission/Implosion (2001, poetry), Mayan Mars (2006), Chechnya Jihad (2011), and of additional works in progress.