Martínez-Hernández A.L., Velasco-Santos C., de Icaza M., Martínez-Hernández A.L., Santiago-Valtierra A.L., Castaño V.M.
CFATA-UNAM /ITQ, MX
Keywords: keratin, natural materials, self-assembly
Smart materials are required in devices in order to develop different functions referent to control and automation. The performance and applications of these materials have been growing in the last years and recently their development at nanometric scale and with nanometric structures represents a new challenge in the emerging era of nanotechnology. In this context nature materials have called the attention of research community inasmuch as some of these have a clear ability to adapt toward different conditions with slight changes at molecular level. Clear examples of these molecular biomaterials are proteins which have smart response to different conditions depending on their nature. Research on structural proteins such as collagen, keratin, and silk may form the basis for producing a variety of hierarchical structures that are characterized by the ability to undergo biomolecular self-assembling. The study of these structures promises to be an important gate in order to understand and then develop truly smart materials where the answer occurs at the nanometric level, which could be very useful to control and mimic different nature materials.
Journal: TechConnect Briefs
Volume: 1, Technical Proceedings of the 2005 NSTI Nanotechnology Conference and Trade Show, Volume 1
Published: May 8, 2005
Pages: 312 - 315
Industry sectors: Advanced Materials & Manufacturing | Medical & Biotech
Topic: Biomaterials
ISBN: 0-9767985-0-6