title: Biomimetic nanopores: learning from and about nature.
abstract: Through recent advances in nanotechnology and molecular engineering, biomimetics - the development of synthetic systems that imitate biological structures and processes - is now emerging at the nanoscale. In this review, we explore biomimetic nanopores and nanochannels. Biological systems are full of nano-scale channels and pores that inspire us to devise artificial pores that demonstrate molecular selectivity or other functional advantages. Moreover, with a biomimetic approach, we can also study biological pores, through bottom-up engineering approaches whereby constituent components can be investigated outside the complex cellular environment.
authors.affiliation: Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Lorentzweg 1, 2628 CJ Delft, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Stefan W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kowalczyk
authors.forename: Timothy R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Blosser
authors.forename: Cees
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dekker
mesh_terms: D040761:Biomimetic Materials; D032701:Biomimetics; D008954:Models, Biological; D058608:Nanopores; D043942:Nanotubes