In living systems, there are many autonomous and oscillatory phenomena such as heart beating. The author developed “self-oscillating” polymer gels that undergo spontaneous cyclic swelling-deswelling changes without any on-off switching of external stimuli as heart beating. The self-oscillating gels were designed by utilizing the Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction, an oscillating reaction, as a chemical model of the TCA cycle. They have been systematically studied since the first report in 1996. Potential applications include several kinds of functional material systems such as biomimetic actuators, mass transport systems and functional fluids. In this review, the research progress is summarized.

Until now, the wettability of solid surfaces has been simply estimated by the magnitude of their static contact angles (CAs). However, if we can control CA hysteresis (difference between advancing and receding CAs), the liquid sliding properties can be markedly improved independent of the magnitude of static CAs. In this review, the author will introduce how to prepare green functional coatings showing excellent liquid sliding properties not relying on specific micro/nanostructures or perfluorinated compounds which have a large environmental burden, but use only ubiquitous elements.

Biomimetics is the innovative paradigm shift based on biodiversity for sustainability. Biodiversity is not only the result of evolutionary adaptation but also the optimized solution of “an epic combinatorial chemistry” for sustainability, because the diversity has been acquired by “biological processes and technology” including “production processes”, “operating principles”, and “control systems”, all of which differ from the “human technology”. Biomimetics is an emergent interdisciplinary field of natural history, biology, ecology, mathematics, physics, chemistry, nanotechnology, materials science, mechanical engineering, architecture, economics, and sociology. “Biomimetic Informatics” based on biological database and information science is an important tool for the technology transfer from biology to engineering. The comprehensive translational research combining various fields of science and technology is indispensable to open the new paradigm based on biological diversity and human wisdom. Recently the Council of the EU adopted reduction of marine plastic litter from single-use plastic products towards safeguarding natural environment and transition to Circular Economy for promoting sustainable production and consumption. Biomimetics is an ecosystem service based on biodiversity, that brings about paradigm shift for technological innovation in sustainable manufacturing under the restricted environmental condition in the new geological age, “Anthropocene”.

The cell membrane is not only a cross-wall to compartmentalize cytoplasmic components but provides a functional interface for various biological pathways such as signal transduction, material transport, and energy production. Since these pivotal functions of cell membranes rely on the functional cooperation of a lipid bilayer and membrane proteins, it is essential to understand and control their interactions to develop novel membrane-targeting bioactive agents. In the molecular scale of view, membrane proteins or membrane-active peptides have an amphiphilic structure that is originated in the precise special arrangement of hydrophilic and hydrophobic amino acid residues. Based on the concept of biomimetics, we can develop novel biomaterials by employing synthetic molecular frameworks that display their function through the interaction with cell membranes by mimicking the nature of membrane proteins. In this article, the approach to design membrane-active amphiphilic polymers will be reviewed in comparison with natural proteins or peptides to be imitated. Membrane-active antimicrobial polymers have been designed by mimicking natural antimicrobial peptides that achieved high antimicrobial activity with low risk of resistance development and toxicity to host cells. Besides, an apolipoprotein-mimicking lipid nanodisc-forming polymer was developed toward the analysis of membrane proteins in an intact form.