Accessing biology's toolbox for the mesoscale biofabrication of soft matter

Abstract

Biology is a master of mesoscale science, possessing unprecedented capabilities for fabricating components with nano-scale precision and then assembling them over a hierarchy of length scales. Biology's fabrication prowess is well-recognized and there has been considerable effort to mimic these capabilities to create materials with diverse and multiple functions. In this review, we pose the question – why mimic, why not directly use the materials and mechanisms that biology provides to biofabricate functional materials? This question seems especially relevant when considering that many of the envisioned applications – from regenerative medicine to bioelectronics – involve biology. Here, we provide a sampling to illustrate how self-assembly, enzymatic-assembly and the emerging tools of modern biology can be enlisted to create functional soft matter. We envision that biofabrication will provide a biocompatible approach to mesoscale science and yield products that are safe, sustainable and potentially even edible.