Bio-inspired design of multiscale structures for function integration

SummaryMultiscale structures of biological materials exhibit inherent multifunctional integration. This special biological solution provides some inspiration for scientists and engineers to design multifunctional artificial materials with multiscale structures. In this review, we focus on recent research progress in some typical biological materials (such as lotus leaves, rice leaves, butterfly wings, water strider legs, insect compound eyes, fish scales, red rose petals, brittlestars, spider silks, nacre, glass sponges, gecko feet, mussels, and others) and the corresponding bio-inspired multiscale materials possessing function integration. The challenges and perspectives for bio-inspired design of multifunctional structures in the future are also briefly addressed.

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► Multiscale structures are characteristic for biological materials.
► Inherent multiscale structures of biological materials exhibit multifunctional integration.
► Typical biological materials and the corresponding bio-inspired materials possessing function integration were highlighted.
► Challenges and perspectives for bio-inspired design of multifunctional structures were addressed.