Bioinspired materials articles from across Nature Portfolio

Melanins are a diverse family of natural pigments with a unique combination of optical, electronic, redox, and structural properties that challenge conventional chemical characterisation. Here, the authors summarize insights from the first international interdisciplinary meeting dedicated to melanin and advocate for a unified approach to understanding melanin’s complex chemistry and advancing melanin-based technologies.

Regrowth of lost enamel in tooth decay and sensitivity is a major obstacle to overcome. Here, the authors report on a protein-based material that mimics features of natural enamel formation, allowing for epitaxial growth of apatite nanocrystals to restore enamel structure and function.

A non-expansive, biodegradable matrix for human blood vessel organoid development enhances vascular reconstruction and promotes neurogenesis in brain regions of mice after ischaemic stroke through controlled internal degradation and structural stability.

Most bio-derived polymers deteriorate during environmental exposure. Here, the authors report a bio-derived polyester containing aromatic p-conjugated vinylidene units, these provided self-reinforcement through [2 + 2] cycloadditions, leading to mechanical enhancements during ageing.

Researchers developed a self-driving lab, including automated confocal imaging, that uses machine learning to rapidly map the phase behavior of biomolecular condensates.

This article reviews the design, synthesis, and properties of 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) polymers bearing phosphorylcholine groups, which mimic cell membrane surfaces to achieve biocompatibility and medical functionality. MPC polymer surfaces effectively suppress protein adsorption, cell adhesion, activation, and subsequent biological reactions. The practical approaches for implementing MPC polymers in medical devices are also described. Utilizing the unique bioinspired properties of MPC polymers, these devices have demonstrated remarkable performance in clinical use, significantly contributing to an improvement in patients’ quality of life.

Deep learning-based generative tools are used to design protein building blocks with well-defined directional protein bonding interactions, allowing for the generation of a variety of scalable protein assemblies from a small set of reusable subunits.

Drying-driven assembly of tripeptides into porous, redispersible microparticles enables spontaneous protein encapsulation and protection.

An article in Advanced Functional Materials presents a conductive hydrogel-based electronic skin with high flexibility, sensitivity and biocompatibility for human health sensing.

Vaccine distribution in remote areas without reliable electricity or refrigeration options presents major challenges. In response to ‘the ultimate bioengineering challenge’ competition, we present the design of a biorefrigerator made of biodegradable, locally sourced materials that is engineered to preserve vaccines at optimal temperatures without requiring external energy.

Synthetic organoids made by combining white blood cells or tonsil cells with a hydrogel that mimics the immune tissue microenvironment provide a platform for mechanistic analysis of B cell maturation, humoral immunity and modelling of patient-specific responses.

The extracellular matrix remains under-recognized as a sex-dependent entity. Designing culture environments that account for sex as a biological variable requires considering not only cellular sex, but also the usage of sex-specific scaffolds to create a holistically sex-accurate platform.