Design of new biomimetic, biodegradable, active, self-healing, responsive, life-like materials
Countless materials in Nature have resulted from processes of evolution, whose composition, synthesis and multi-scale organization are still incompletely elucidated. Moreover, thanks to its out-of-equilibrium thermodynamic state, biological matter possesses specific properties from which we are just beginning to draw inspiration for developing innovative material systems. Among these properties are motility, activity and adaptability to environmental constraints as well as dynamic coordination between building elements.
The aim of Axis 5 is to build on the knowledge of biomimetic and biological systems to develop new biodegradable polymers, bio-inspired multifunctional materials, active matter systems and life-like materials.
The field will address environmental (degradation and decontamination) and biomedical (drug delivery, adhesives, antimicrobial coatings) challenges by relying on the knowledge and tools developed for biological/biomimetic systems, in association with synthetic materials or not.