Editing Biomimetics (section)

==Other technologies==

[[Protein folding]] has been used to control material formation for [[Molecular self-assembly|self-assembled functional nanostructures]].<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Self-assembled bionanostructures: proteins following the lead of DNA nanostructures|first1=Helena|last1=Gradišar|first2=Roman|last2=Jerala|date=February 3, 2014|journal=Journal of Nanobiotechnology|volume=12|issue=1|pages=4|doi=10.1186/1477-3155-12-4|pmid = 24491139|pmc=3938474 |doi-access=free }}</ref> Polar bear fur has inspired the design of thermal collectors and clothing.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Bionics in textiles: flexible and translucent thermal insulations for solar thermal applications |last1=Stegmaier |first1=Thomas |last2=Linke |first2=Michael |last3=Planck |first3=Heinrich |date=29 March 2009 |doi=10.1098/rsta.2009.0019 |pmid=19376769 |journal=Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A |volume=367 |issue=1894 |pages=1749–1758|bibcode=2009RSPTA.367.1749S |s2cid=17661840 }}</ref> The light refractive properties of the moth's eye has been studied to reduce the reflectivity of solar panels.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Wilson, S.J. Wilson |author2=Hutley, M.C. | title=The Optical Properties of 'Moth Eye' Antireflection Surfaces | journal=Journal of Modern Optics | volume=29 | issue=7 | pages=993–1009| year=1982 | doi=10.1080/713820946|bibcode=1982AcOpt..29..993W }}</ref>

[[File:TobaccoMosaicVirus.jpg|thumb|upright|alt=Electron micrograph of rod shaped TMV particles|[[Scanning electron micrograph]] of rod shaped [[tobacco mosaic virus]] particles]]

The [[Bombardier beetle]]'s powerful repellent spray inspired a Swedish company to develop a "micro mist" spray technology, which is claimed to have a low carbon impact (compared to aerosol sprays). The beetle mixes chemicals and releases its spray via a steerable nozzle at the end of its abdomen, stinging and confusing the victim.<ref>[http://www.swedishbiomimetics.com/biomimetics_folder.pdf Swedish Biomimetics: The μMist Platform Technology] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213022851/http://www.swedishbiomimetics.com/biomimetics_folder.pdf |date=December 13, 2013 }}. Retrieved 3 June 2012.</ref>

Most [[virus]]es have an outer capsule 20 to 300&nbsp;nm in diameter. Virus capsules are remarkably robust and capable of withstanding temperatures as high as 60&nbsp;°C; they are stable across the [[pH]] range 2–10.<ref name="Tong" /> Viral capsules can be used to create nano device components such as nanowires, nanotubes, and quantum dots. Tubular virus particles such as the [[tobacco mosaic virus]] (TMV) can be used as templates to create nanofibers and nanotubes, since both the inner and outer layers of the virus are charged surfaces which can induce nucleation of crystal growth. This was demonstrated through the production of [[platinum]] and [[gold]] nanotubes using TMV as a template.<ref name="Dujardin">{{cite journal |last1=Dujardin |first1=Erik |last2=Peet |first2=Charlie |last3=Stubbs |first3=Gerald |last4=Culver |first4=James N. |last5=Mann |first5=Stephen |title=Organization of Metallic Nanoparticles Using Tobacco Mosaic Virus Templates |journal=Nano Letters |date=March 2003 |volume=3 |issue=3 |pages=413–417 |doi=10.1021/nl034004o |bibcode=2003NanoL...3..413D }}</ref> Mineralized virus particles have been shown to withstand various pH values by mineralizing the viruses with different materials such as silicon, [[Lead(II) sulfide|PbS]], and [[Cadmium sulfide|CdS]] and could therefore serve as a useful carriers of material.<ref name="Shenton">{{cite journal |last1=Douglas |first1=Trevor |last2=Young |first2=Mark |title=Virus Particles as Templates for Materials Synthesis |journal=Advanced Materials |date=June 1999 |volume=11 |issue=8 |pages=679–681 |doi=10.1002/(SICI)1521-4095(199906)11:8<679::AID-ADMA679>3.0.CO;2-J |bibcode=1999AdM....11..679D }}</ref> A spherical plant virus called [[cowpea chlorotic mottle virus]] (CCMV) has interesting expanding properties when exposed to environments of pH higher than 6.5. Above this pH, 60 independent pores with diameters about 2&nbsp;nm begin to exchange substance with the environment. The structural transition of the viral capsid can be utilized in [[Biomineralization|Biomorphic mineralization]] for selective uptake and deposition of minerals by controlling the solution pH. Possible applications include using the viral cage to produce uniformly shaped and sized quantum dot [[semiconductor]] nanoparticles through a series of pH washes. This is an alternative to the [[Ferritin|apoferritin]] cage technique currently used to synthesize uniform CdSe nanoparticles.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Yamashita |first1=Ichiro |last2=Hayashi |first2=Junko |last3=Hara |first3=Masahiko |title=Bio-template Synthesis of Uniform CdSe Nanoparticles Using Cage-shaped Protein, Apoferritin |journal=Chemistry Letters |date=September 2004 |volume=33 |issue=9 |pages=1158–1159 |doi=10.1246/cl.2004.1158 }}</ref> Such materials could also be used for targeted drug delivery since particles release contents upon exposure to specific pH levels.