Biological patterns and textures: From formation mechanisms to biomimetic applications

Through prolonged evolutionary processes, biological structures have developed highly intricate patterns and textures. These configurations not only confer exceptional mechanical properties to organisms but also significantly enhance their functional adaptability across diverse environments. This review systematically examines the formation mechanisms, evolutionary principles, advanced analytical techniques, and industrial applications of various biological patterns and textures. It aims to establish a comprehensive theoretical framework for the field and inspire innovative designs in biomimetic materials and devices. In terms of formation mechanisms, the focus is placed on biomechanically driven processes such as surface buckling phenomena, reaction-diffusion processes, and material circulation. Regarding evolutionary principles, the roles of environmental selection pressures, genetic drift, and biological constraints in shaping the self-organization of biological morphologies are analyzed. In the domain of analysis and fabrication technologies, recent advances in multiscale characterization, computational modeling, artificial intelligence, and advanced manufacturing techniques for decoding and replicating pattern structures are summarized. Industrial applications are illustrated through successful cases of bio-inspired structures in functional surfaces, soft robotics, and biomedical engineering. Finally, this review outlines prospective research directions and underscores the critical importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration in advancing biomimetic innovation.