The human body includes very effective and efficient technology, such as light receptors (eyes), chemical receptors (tongue and nose), and movement (muscles). This book explains how these functions work on the molecular level and then discusses nanotechnology that uses the same structure-function relationships.

Autorentext

Anja Mueller, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, MI, USA.

Inhalt

I. Introduction

• Why copy nature?
• Nature through the eyes of an engineer

II. Introduction to Materials Science

• Scale of Atoms, Molecules, Cells, Polymers
• Mechanical strength
• Material characterization techniques

III. Introduction to Nanotechnology

• The effect of size on properties such as mechanical properties and flow
• Bulk forces vs. surface forces
  -Microfluidics
  -Ion lithography
• Characterization techniques for nano-sized materials

IV. Introduction to biology in the molecular scale

• Tissues, cells, and cell components
• Neurons
• Protein structure - activity
• Transport in blood, cells, and across membranes
• Signal transduction

V. Molecular motors

• Energy conversion into force and movement in the body
• Structure and function of molecular motors
  ATP synthesis
  DNA packing
• Flagella
• Use of molecular motors in devices
• Nanosized motors mimicking biological molecular motors

VI. Vision

• Human vision - light to electrical signal conversion
• Photoelectric sensor using rhodopsin
• Nanosized light switches mimicking biological vision

VII. Smell and Taste

• Human smell and taste - chemical to electrical signal conversion
• Artificial nose/tongue using the same conversion principles
• Artificial nose/tongue mimicking the same function
• Artificial nose with neurons, mimicking sense and recognition

VIII. Skin, the biggest organ in the body

• Skin functions - protection, recognition and defense, recognition and transport, sensor(touch, temperature)
• Structure - function relationship in skin
• Nanosized materials mimicking skin's protection mechanism
• Drug delivery mimicking transport and release upon signal
• Nanomaterials reacting upon environmental changes with transport or release

IX. Future Developments