Chapter 2. Bioinspired Surfaces

Life is not a homogeneous medium. The complex molecular chemistry giving rise to all living things operates in a compartmental system. For example, DNA is a solid macromolecule coiled tightly within the liquid phase of the nucleus and the nucleus itself resides within the closed domain of a phospholipid membrane within a cell. Interfacial boundaries and surfaces are ubiquitous in nature and present a wealth of diverse functions, from mediating metabolic reactions to environmental protection. The long process of evolution has produced a variety of surfaces that can be of use if replicated synthetically. The production of a bioinspired surface relies on mimicking not only the chemical character of the interface but also the topology of an often intricate hierarchical surface. This chapter focuses on the chemical considerations for designing functional bioinspired surfaces alongside the techniques for duplicating and examining them.