Bio-Inspired Active and Adaptive Materials

Abstract

This course offers a comprehensive description of the molecular mechanisms that are at the origin of the functions carried out by complex out-of-equilibrium materials systems in living organisms. Through discussions, we will demonstrate strategies of implementing such molecular-based vital functions found in biological systems into synthetic materials.

Objective

By the end of this course, students will be able to correlate dissipative molecular mechanisms with active and interactive functions found in living organisms. They will be able to apply and integrate key out-of-equilibrium concepts towards functional active and adaptive devices and material systems.

Content

- Dynamic molecular systems - Active, adaptive and autonomous molecular systems - Temporal regulation in biological and bio-inspired systems - Temporal control in biological systems - Temporal control in bio-inspired systems - Autonomous molecular structures - Out-of-equilibrium biological and bio-inspired systems - Decay of metastable and steady-state systems - Transient self-assembly with active environments and active structural systems - Motion and work generation - Molecular motion mechanisms in biology - Bio-inspired motors and walkers - Harnessing molecular work at the macroscale - Information processing in autonomous molecular systems - Sensing, adaptation and communication in biology - Reaction-diffusion in continuous systems

Resources