Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 12, 2025
Preparation of Functional Silica Using a Bioinspired Method
Published on: August 1, 2018
Discussing the Terms Biomimetic and Bioinspired within Bioinorganic Chemistry
Silène Engbers1, Phebe H van Langevelde2, Dennis G H Hetterscheid2
1Molecular Inorganic Chemistry, Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, (The Netherlands).
Abstract:
The terms biomimetic and bioinspired are very relevant in the field of bioinorganic chemistry and have been widely applied. Although they were defined by the International Organization for Standardization in 2015, these terms have at times been used rather ambiguously in the literature. This may be due to the inherent complexity of bioinorganic systems where, for example, a structural model of an enzyme active site may not replicate its function. Conversely, the function of an enzyme may be reproduced in a system where the structure does not resemble the enzyme's active site. To address this, we suggest definitions for the terms biomimetic and bioinspired wherein structure and function have been decoupled. With the help of some representative case studies we have outlined the challenges that may arise and make suggestions on how to apply terminology with careful intention.
Related Concept Videos
02:55Synthetic Biology
Golden rice
Golden rice is a genetically modified...
01:23Properties of Organometallic Compounds
02:40Ligand Binding Sites
Protein-ligand interactions are quite specific; even though numerous potential ligands surround a cellular protein at any given time, only a particular ligand can bind to that protein. Moreover, a ligand binds only to a dedicated area on the surface of the protein, known as the...
02:34Structural Isomerism
Isomers are different chemical species that have the same chemical formula. Structural isomerism of coordination compounds can be divided into two subcategories, the linkage isomers and coordination-sphere isomers.
Linkage isomers occur when the coordination compound contains a ligand that can bind to the transition metal center through two different atoms. For example, the CN− ligand can bind through the carbon atom or through the nitrogen atom. Similarly, SCN− can...
02:52Stereoisomerism
Isomers are different chemical species that have the same chemical formula.
Transition metal complexes often exist as geometric isomers, in which the same atoms are connected through the same types of bonds but with differences in their orientation in space. Coordination complexes with two different ligands in the cis and trans positions from a ligand of interest form isomers. For example, the octahedral [Co(NH3)4Cl2]+ ion has two isomers (Figure 1) In the cis...
02:35Noncovalent Attractions in Biomolecules
Four types of noncovalent interactions are hydrogen bonds, van der Waals forces, ionic bonds, and hydrophobic interactions.
Hydrogen bonding results from the electrostatic attraction of a hydrogen atom covalently bonded to a strong-electronegative atom like oxygen,...