Nacre-inspired nanocomposites produced using layer-by-layer assembly: Design strategies and biomedical applications

•Brief review on the composition, structure and mechanical properties of nacre•Review of the advancements on the production of nacre-inspired nanocomposites using layer-by-layer assembly•Discussion of possible applications of these new kinds of nanocomposites in the biomedical field.

Biomimetics constitutes an attractive strategy for the development of new functional materials in a variety of fields. Nacre is a natural composite composed of 95% aragonite and 5% organic materials with a layered and hierarchical structure which has be shown to have high toughness and mechanical strength and resistance. As such, mimicking nacre's composition and structure can be the key for the development of new materials with increased mechanical properties and stability. This review focuses on recent developments achieved in the production of nacre-like nanocomposites using the layer-by-layer deposition technique. This technique was chosen due to its ability to create nanostructured layered structures with thickness controlled at the nanoscale level using a wide range of different materials. Several examples of nacre-inspired designs of multilayer nanocomposites are overviewed, and their possible applications are discussed, in particular in the biomedical field.