Smart and Biomimetic Materials

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers concepts from Dr. Lauren Priddy's lecture on smart and biomimetic materials, including growth factor release, types of biomimicry, and surface patterning.

Smart Materials

Materials that undergo conformational changes in response to environmental stimuli such as temperature, pH, or light.

Growth Factors

Substances released by activated cells that stimulate cell production, migration, differentiation, and tissue remodeling.

Smart Release

A mechanism where a factor is tethered by an enzymatically-cleavable sequence, allowing release only when a specific protease is present and active.

Biomimicry

A design discipline that takes the natural world as a mentor and teacher to inquire into the mechanisms by which nature solves problems.

Functional Biomimicry

A type of biomimicry where nature provides inspiration for one or more physical and/or chemical properties of a material.

Molecular Biomimicry

A type of biomimicry where nature inspires the types of atoms and molecules selected in the production of a material.

Process Biomimicry

A type of biomimicry where nature provides inspiration for the pathway or mechanism by which atoms and molecules acquire their final position and orientation.

Structure Biomimicry

A type of biomimicry where nature's inspiration guides the pattern of atomic and/or molecular organization, such as microstructure or nanostructure.

Boxfish

An organism with aerodynamic properties that motivated the design of a Mercedes-Benz compact car shape.

Ram's Horn

A natural structure studied to learn how to maximize energy absorption and resist impact forces for materials like body armor.

Topography / Structure

Surface features that affect cell morphology and functions including proliferation, motility, gene expression, alignment, and differentiation.

PEG (Polyethylene Glycol)

A non-fouling surface material used to minimize protein adsorption.

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)

An example of a growth factor released by activated cells critical for tissue repair and regeneration.

Fibroblast growth factor (FGF)

A growth factor important during inflammation for the growth of fibroblasts and blood vessels.

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-̢)

A specific growth factor critical for tissue repair and regeneration.

Collagen Fibrils

Components in the multiscale hierarchy of bone with a typical size of approximately $300\,nm$.

Osteon

A structural unit of bone identified in the multiscale hierarchy with a size range of $100-500\,\mu m$.