Naturally-derived and bioinspired materials

Cell behavior and tissue function are influenced by the composition and architecture of their surroundings. These cues can drive normal processes during, for example, development, wound healing and homeostasis, or promote harmful processes including tumor growth and metastasis, fibrosis, disease and degeneration. Recent advances in materials synthesis, processing and characterization as well as our ever-improving knowledge of the biological bases for physiological and pathological processes set the stage for new technologies to better recapitulate the complex in vivo scenario. Materials, which are either naturally-derived, and are inherently useful for biomedical applications or created by biology-inspired means, are poised to play key roles in recapitulating the in vivo environment and ultimately achieve more effective therapeutics and diagnostics. The articles found in this themed issue focusing on naturally-derived and bioinspired materials report novel aspects in the field that fall into one or more of the following sources of biological inspiration: composition, structure, physicochemical a Department of Chemical, Biochemical & Environmental Engineering, UMBC, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA. E-mail: [email protected] b Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry, Institute of Biomaterials & Biomedical Engineering, Department of Chemistry, Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON M5S3E1, Canada