Virtual special issue "Biomimetic Polymers"

Bruns, Nico and Scheibel, Thomas (2020) Virtual special issue "Biomimetic Polymers". European Polymer Journal, 122. 109370. ISSN 0014-3057 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2019.109370)

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Abstract

Editorial for the Virtual Special Issue "Biomimetic Polymers" of the European Polymer Journal, guest edited by Nico Bruns and Thomas Scheibel. Without macromolecules, life would not have evolved. The whole cell machinery relies on macromolecular compounds, such as DNA, RNA, proteins, and peptides. Moreover, biopolymers such as polysaccharides or lignin play important roles as structural components of living systems. Natural macromolecules have sophisticated functions and properties that have so far been rarely achieved in synthetic systems. That is why synthetic polymer chemists often look into nature for inspiration how to design functional polymers, or to mimic the function of natural systems with synthetic ones. Moreover, with the advent of biotechnology, the boundaries between natural and synthetic polymers become fluid. For example, the recombinant expression and engineering of genes allows using recombinant proteins in materiaĺs applications. The aim of this special issue of the European Polymer Journal is to highlight examples of research in the field of biomimetic and bioinspired polymer chemistry in order to showcase current trends and to emphasize the opportunities of biomimetic and bioinspired functional materials for novel applications.

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