Nanobionics

Dr Ahson J Shaikh
Bionics
• Bionics or biologically inspired engineering is the application of biological
methods and systems found in nature to the study and design of
engineering systems and modern technology.
• The word bionic was coined by Jack E. Steele in August 1958, being formed
as a portmanteau from biology and electronics.
• The transfer of technology between lifeforms and manufactured objects is
desirable because evolutionary pressure typically forces living organisms,
including fauna and flora, to become highly optimized and efficient.
• A classical example is the development of dirt- and water-repellent paint
(coating) from the observation that practically nothing sticks to the surface
of the lotus flower plant (the lotus effect)
Bionics
• The term "biomimetic" is preferred when the reference is made to
chemical reactions.
• In that domain, biomimetic chemistry refers to reactions that, in
nature, involve biological macromolecules (e.g. enzymes or nucleic
acids) whose chemistry can be replicated in vitro using much smaller
molecules.
• Examples of bionics in engineering include the hulls of boats (main
body) imitating the thick skin of dolphins; sonar, radar, and medical
ultrasound imaging imitating animal echolocation.
Bionics
• In the field of computer science, the study of bionics has produced
artificial neurons, artificial neural networks, and swarm intelligence.
• Evolutionary computation was also motivated by bionics ideas, but it
took the idea further by simulating evolution in silico and producing
well-optimized solutions that had never appeared in nature.

http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Swarm_intelligence
Bionics
There are generally three biological levels in the fauna or flora, after
which technology can be modeled:

• Mimicking natural methods of manufacture

• Imitating mechanisms found in nature (e.g. velcro)
• Studying organizational principles from the social behaviour of
organisms, such as the flocking behaviour of birds, optimization of ant
foraging and bee foraging, and the swarm intelligence (SI)-based
behaviour of a school of fish.
Examples
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bionics

Homework
Biomimetics or Bionics
• Is the study of the structure and function of biological systems as
models for the design and engineering of materials and machines.
• It is widely regarded as being synonymous with biomimicry,
biomimesis, biognosis and similar to biologically inspired design.
• Biomimetic refers to human-made processes, substances, devices, or
systems that imitate nature.
• The art and science of designing and building biomimetic apparatus is
called biomimetics, and is of special interest to researchers in
nanotechnology, robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), the medical
industry, and the military.
• Some biomimetic processes have been in use for years.
• An example is the artificial synthesis of certain vitamins and
antibiotics.
• More recently, biomimetics have been suggested as applicable in the
design of machine vision systems, machine hearing systems, signal
amplifiers, navigational systems, and data converters.
• Other possible applications of biomimetics include nanorobot
antibodies that seek and destroy disease-causing bacteria, artificial
organs, artificial arms, legs, hands, and feet, and various electronic
devices.
• One of the more intriguing ideas is the so-called biochip, a
microprocessor that grows from a starter crystal in much the same
way that a seed grows into a tree, or a fertilized egg grows into an
embryo.
Plant Nanobionics
• The plant nanobionics is an emerging field of bioengineering which
alters the functioning of the plant tissue or organelle by introducing
nanoparticles into the cells and chloroplasts of living plants.
• The key idea in plant nanobionics is the endowment of supernatural
powers to plant which once upon a time seemed to be some kind of
fairy tale like using plant as a light source, etc.
• Plants are now being exploited for nanobionic purposes due to their
exceptional capability to produce energy from sunlight and
photosynthesis.
• Now the scientists of nanobiotechnology area are coming up with war
footing to construct nanobionic plants with more efficient
photosynthesizing capability and powerful sensors to sense nano
level biochemicals in an area.
Plant Nanobionics: A Novel Approach to
Overcome the Environmental Challenges

• The broader vision is to create a wide array of wild-type plants

capable of imaging objects in their environment, self-powering
themselves as light sources, infrared communication devices, and also
function as self-powered ground water sensors.
Plant nanobionics, the science of super-
powered plants
• Science is being able to provide plants with non-native powers that
are, in principle, supernatural to them: explosive-detecting spinach,
species capable of withstanding extreme temperatures, vegetables
sensitive to metal presence.
• These plants were modified by embedding in their leaves carbon
nanotube devices capable of detecting chemical compounds present
in anti-personnel and other types of landmines.
• When one of these chemicals is present in the groundwater sampled
naturally by the plant, carbon nanotubes embedded in the leaves
emit a fluorescent signal that can be read with an infrared camera.
This camera is, in turn, connected to a mobile device which eventually
sends an alert to the user.
• It is one of the first demonstrations of electronic system integration
into plants.
• This approach, dubbed plant nanobionics or, in other words, super-
plant engineering, is becoming increasingly relevant.
• Great expectations are placed on plant nanobionics in order to tackle
issues such as pollution.
• Genetic or structural modifications and the plants´ ability to collect
soil information promptly, species capable of detecting pollutants
could be created, thus providing us with the ability to plan ahead
against greater potential problems.
• Same happens with bioremediation, a discipline dedicated to recover
soils that have been altered by diverse unfavourable environmental
conditions, which could find invaluable help in nanobionic, genetically
modified plants.
• At MIT, scientists have developed plants with enhanced
photosynthetic capability by embedding nanostructures inside their
cells, allowing these not only to absorb 30% more energy from
sunlight, but also to detect pollutants.

• This is precisely one of the principles of nanobionics: to devise

sensors that, incorporated into plants, could allow us to monitor
pesticide use alternatively and effectively, discover infections due to
fungi or bacterial toxins, and who knows how many more
applications.
• Nano Engineered Material (NEM) based nanosensors are important
tools for monitoring plant signaling pathways and metabolism that
are nondestructive, minimally invasive, and can provide real-time
analysis of biotic and abiotic threats for better plant health.
• These sensors can measure chemical flux even at the single molecule
level.
• Plant health could be monitored through nutrient management,
disease assessment, plant hormones level, environmental pollution,
etc.
• Precision agriculture, urban farming, and plant nanobionics adopt a
sustainable approach in agriculture.