Biomimetic engineering of cellulose-based materials.

Biomimetics is a field of science that investigates biological structures and processes for their use as models for the development of artificial systems. Biomimetic approaches have considerable potential in the development of new high-performance materials with low environmental impact. The cell walls of different plant species represent complex and highly sophisticated composite materials that can provide inspiration on how to design and fabricate lightweight materials with unique properties. Such materials can provide environmentally compatible solutions in advanced packaging, electronic devices, vehicles and sports equipment. This review gives an overview of the structures and interactions in natural plant cell walls and describes the first attempts towards mimicking them to develop novel biomaterials.