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Biomimetic materials

Polymers with bio-inspired strength

Biopolymers, ingeniously designed by nature, can combine different mechanical properties and even adapt to changes in their environment. By imitating the structure of a protein, chemists have now made a strong, tough polymer that also exhibits elastic properties.

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Figure 1: The biosystem and bio-inspired material.

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Rowan, S. Polymers with bio-inspired strength. Nature Chem 1, 347–348 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/nchem.312

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