The potential of biomimicry in healthcare

By Vicky Nguyen 

Blog Team Lead

Nature holds countless wonders that humanity can harness to further our understanding of science. Biomimicry, the practice of applying natural designs, systems, and processes to produce materials or structures, is gaining prominence within the scientific community, particularly due to its potential for driving sustainability and originality [1]. From porcine hearts to fish skin, biomimicry offers vast opportunities for exploration. Its versatility holds immense potential for advancements in cardiovascular health, surgery, and dentistry. By drawing insights from biological systems, biomimicry can lead to breakthroughs that improve the lives of millions.

Overview of cardiovascular diseases

Cardiovascular diseases, the leading cause of death from non-communicable diseases, claim roughly 18 million lives worldwide each year [2,3]. Biomimicry has been increasingly explored to improve cardiovascular function in patients with heart diseases. In a healthy heart, blood from the left atrium travels to reach the left ventricular outflow tract during ventricular diastole, the heart’s relaxation phase [4]. However, traditional mitral valve replacements for people with cardiovascular diseases often interrupt this flow, thus reducing the efficiency and stability of the heart. To address this, Tan et al. designed a mitral valve with an anterior leaflet-like feature that could reduce the turbulence of the blood flow in the left ventricle [4]. By mimicking the native anterior leaflet in the human heart, their mechanical valve generated a ventricular flow similar to that of a healthy heart, highlighting the potential of biomimicry to improve cardiovascular treatments. Another study by Park et al. developed a cardiac model to address the lack of reliable systems for device testing, medical training, and experimental demonstrations [5]. Using inner tissues from a pig’s heart, they recreated the heart’s intricate structure with soft robotic tissues, offering a promising solution for testing intracardiac devices and reducing the use of live animals in testing [5]. 

Tissue engineering 

Beyond cardiovascular treatments, biomimicry plays a major role in advancing tissue engineering. A notable example is using animal-derived skin tissue to create natural scaffolds for treating burn injuries. With more than 30,000 people worldwide affected by burns, there is a pressing need for a cost-effective and sustainable approach to skin wound treatment [6]. Extensive research into tissue engineering has highlighted the potential of fish collagen to be used as building blocks for human skin due to its high absorbance and low molecular weight—80% of which is composed of collagen [7]. Collagen derived from fish skin, such as tilapia, can serve as an effective artificial skin wound dressing, naturally fighting infections and facilitating the rapid regeneration of healthy granulation tissue over the burnt area [6,7]. Furthermore, hydrogels—3D cross-linked polymer networks capable of holding large amounts of water—create ideal environments for tissue culture. Since hydrogels are mainly composed of polysaccharides, which are abundant in shellfish, plants, and corals, their structures can be replicated in vitro to promote cell adhesion and differentiation [6]. 

Applications in dentistry

Biomimetic approaches have also brought several benefits to dentistry. One example is the development of dental ceramics that mimic the natural appearance of teeth [8]. Holland et al. modelled glass ceramics using needle-like apatite building blocks similar to those found in living dental tissues, thus enhancing the mechanical and aesthetic characteristics of the ceramics [9]. Hydroxyapatite, a natural mineral form of calcium apatite commonly used in dental materials, is favoured for its high biocompatibility and resistance to degradation, which allows for safe interactions with the physiological environments of the human body [10]. Due to its similarity to human bone, modifications of hydroxyapatite can serve as a growth medium for bone tissues and help stabilize dental implants. Another enriching application of biomimicry in dental research involves mussel adhesive proteins (MAPs), which are secretions from the feet of the Mytilus genus that enable attachment to marine surfaces [10]. The chemicals promoting strong adhesion in MAPs, such as phenols and collagen, have inspired the production of synthetic adhesive polymers to help with surface coatings, thus expanding the potential for research in biomimicry within dentistry [11].

Conclusion

Drawing inspiration from nature and biological processes, biomimicry holds immense potential to improve human well-being and health. From modelling cardiovascular devices and treating burn wounds to increasing adhesion in dental coatings, biomimetic innovations leverage the principles of nature to drive advancements in healthcare. Further research into these applications offers a transformative future, wherein millions of lives are enhanced thanks to the creativity and observational skills of researchers and healthcare professionals.

References

1. Radwan GA, Osama N. Biomimicry, an approach for energy efficient building skin design. Procedia Environ Sci. 2016 Jan 1;34:178-89. doi: doi.org/10.1016/j.proenv.2016.04.017 
2.  Liu L. Biomimicry inspired health care garment for cardiovascular patients. Politecnico Milano. 2022. www.politesi.polimi.it/handle/10589/190246
3. Jagannathan R, Patel SA, Ali MK, Narayan KV. Global updates on cardiovascular disease mortality trends and attribution of traditional risk factors. Curr Diab Rep. 2019 Jul;19:1-2. doi: doi.org/10.1007/s11892-019-1161-2 
4. Tan SG, Kim S, Leo HL. The application of biomimicry to a mechanical valve design for the abatement of flow instabilities. Eur J Mech B Fluids. 2019 Mar 1;74:19-33. doi:  doi.org/10.1016/j.euromechflu.2018.10.007
5. Park C, Fan Y, Hager G, Yuk H, Singh M, Rojas A, Hameed A, Saeed M, Vasilyev NV, Steele TW, Zhao X. An organosynthetic dynamic heart model with enhanced biomimicry guided by cardiac diffusion tensor imaging. Sci Robot. 2020 Jan 29;5(38). doi: doi.org/10.1126/scirobotics.aay9106 
6. Sundar G, Joseph J, John A, Abraham A. Natural collagen bioscaffolds for skin tissue engineering strategies in burns: a critical review. Int J Polym Mater & Poly Bio. 2021 Jun 13;70(9):593-604. doi: doi.org/10.1080/00914037.2020.1740991 
7. Zimba BL, Rwiza MJ, Sauli E. Utilizing tilapia fish skin biomaterial for burn wound dressing: A systematic review. Scientific African. 2024 May 7; 24. doi: doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2024.e02245 
8. Singer L, Fouda A, Bourauel C. Biomimetic approaches and materials in restorative and regenerative dentistry. BMC Oral Health. 2023 Feb 16;23(1):105. doi: doi.org/10.1186/s12903-023-02808-3 
9. Ho¨ land W, Rheinberger V, Wegner S, Frank M. Needle-like apatite-leucite glass-ceramic as a base material for the veneering of metal restorations in dentistry. J Mater Sci Mater Med. 2000 Jan;11(1):11-7. doi: doi.org/10.1023/A:1008977416834 
10. Kwan JC, Dondani J, Iyer J, Muaddi HA, Nguyen TT, Tran SD. Biomimicry and 3D-printing of mussel adhesive proteins for regeneration of the periodontium—a review. Biomimetics. 2023 Feb 12;8(1):78. doi: doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics8010078 
11. Lee H, Dellatore SM, Miller WM, Messersmith PB. Mussel-inspired surface chemistry for multifunctional coatings. Science. 2007 Oct 19;318(5849):426-30. doi: doi.org/10.1126/science.1147241 

Cover image

Strzelecki M, Strzelecki W, Strzelecki J. Underwater life of Klein Bonaire – composite of 8 photos from snorkelling on a flat coral reef off the islet Klein Bonaire. [2008 Dec]. Available from: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kleine_Bonaire-Underwater_life(js).jpg 

About the author

Vicky Nguyen is the Team Lead for the STEM Fellowship Blog Team. A second-year undergraduate student studying Integrated Sciences at the University of British Columbia, she is interested in neuroscience, physiology, and public health. Vicky is currently conducting research in women’s sexual health, where she is investigating genito-pelvic pain and sexual disorders. In her free time, she enjoys learning new languages, reading history, and writing poetry.