Biological systems are complex, thermodynamically "open" systems that can do quite amazing things under very benign conditions, i.e., standard conditions of 298 K and 1 atm. For instance, biological systems build rigid, strong, tough, and lightweight structures by arranging proteins and polysaccharides into optimum configurations. The result is a very useful structure such as wood, bone, shell, or feather.

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• Self-assembled peptides
  
• Protein rubbers
  
• Self-assembled polysaccharides
• Protein machine

• BSE 2106
• BSE 3154
• BSE 3504
• BSE 4514
• BSE 5644
• ENGR 3124

A. Athamneh and J.R. Barone, “Hydrolyzed peptides can self-assemble into micron-sized fibers under benign conditions,” submitted to Biomacromolecules (2009).

A. Athamneh and J.R. Barone, “Enzyme-mediated self-assembly of highly ordered structures from disordered proteins,” submitted to Smart Materials and Structures (2009).

D.P. Fyhrie, R.K. June, C. Neu, and J.R. Barone, “Polymer mechanics explains the fraction of cartilage stress relaxation not caused by fluid flow,” submitted to Computational Methods in Biomechanical and Biomedical Engineering (2009).

Z. Li, S.H. Renneckar, and J.R. Barone, “Polyphenol-nanocellulose nanocomposites that biomimic the plant cell wall,” Cellulose, in revision.

J.R. Barone, “Cellulose fiber-reinforced keratin polymer composites,” Journal of Polymers and the Environment, in revision.

R.K. June, J.R. Barone, D.P. Fyhrie, “Aggrecan stiffness affects tissue-level cartilage stress-relaxation,” Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 17, 669-676 (2009).

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