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Biomimetics
Special Issues
Design of Natural and Biomimetic Flexible Biological Structures
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Design of Natural and Biomimetic Flexible Biological Structures

A special issue of Biomimetics (ISSN 2313-7673). This special issue belongs to the section "Biomimetics of Materials and Structures".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 May 2026 | Viewed by 5475

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Hongmiao Tian

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Mechanical Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, No. 28 Xianning West Road, Xi'an 710054, China
Interests: biomimetics; bioinspired adhesion; flexible materials; soft robotics; micro-nano fabrication
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Hong Hu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Microelectronics, Shanghai University, No. 99 Shangda Road, Baoshan District, Shanghai 200444, China
Interests: biomimetics; adhesion mechanics; bioinspird adhesion; contact mechanics
Dr. Duorui Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Mechanical Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, No. 28 Xianning West Road, Xi'an 710054, China
Interests: biomimetics; bioinspired adhesion; contact mechanics; micro-nano fabrication

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The design of natural and biomimetic flexible biological structures draws inspiration from the remarkable adaptability and functionality of living systems, particularly those that rely on flexible and adhesive mechanisms. Biological structures such as gecko feet, octopus suckers, and plant tendrils exhibit extraordinary abilities to adhere to, detach from, and adapt to diverse surfaces and environments. These capabilities are rooted in nanoscale features, such as molecular interactions, surface patterning, and hierarchical architectures, that seamlessly integrate flexibility, strength, and responsiveness. Translating these principles into human-designed systems holds immense potential for applications in robotics, medical devices, wearable technologies, and advanced manufacturing.

The inherent complexity of biological adhesion and flexibility poses significant challenges. Natural systems often combine multiple functionalities, such as self-cleaning, reversible adhesion, and dynamic adaptability, into a single structure, making it difficult to isolate and replicate specific features for technological applications. To address this, a multidisciplinary approach is essential, combining insights from biology, materials science, mechanics, and nanotechnology. By deciphering the fundamental principles underlying natural adhesion and flexibility, we can develop biomimetic systems that not only replicate but also enhance these capabilities, ensuring that they are scalable, sustainable, and safe for practical use.

This Special Issue, titled the “Design of Natural and Biomimetic Flexible Biological Structures”, invites contributions that explore the science and engineering of bioinspired flexible and adhesive systems. We welcome theoretical, experimental, and review papers from researchers in fields such as biomechanics, soft robotics, polymer science, nanotechnology, and bioengineering. Topics of particular interest include, but are not limited to, hierarchical material design, reversible adhesion mechanisms, dynamic surface patterning, and environmentally responsive systems. Particular emphasis will be placed on studies that address sustainability, scalability, and ethical considerations, ensuring that biomimetic innovations align with the broader goals of environmental stewardship and human well-being.

Prof. Dr. Hongmiao Tian
Dr. Hong Hu
Dr. Duorui Wang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomimetics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • bioinspired structures
  • surface adhesion
  • biomimetic materials
  • flexible materials
  • micro-nano manufacturing
  • tunable adhesion
  • contact mechanics
  • soft robotics

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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33 pages, 19869 KB  
Article
Learning Nonlinear Dynamics of Flexible Structures for Predictive Control Using Gaussian Process NARX Models
by Nasser Ayidh Alqahtani
Biomimetics 2026, 11(4), 253; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics11040253 - 7 Apr 2026
Viewed by 449
Abstract
Biological systems regulate motion and suppress unwanted vibrations through learning, adaptation, and predictive control under uncertainty. Inspired by these principles, Bayesian system identification has emerged as a powerful framework for modeling and estimation, particularly in the presence of uncertainty in structural systems. Flexible [...] Read more.
Biological systems regulate motion and suppress unwanted vibrations through learning, adaptation, and predictive control under uncertainty. Inspired by these principles, Bayesian system identification has emerged as a powerful framework for modeling and estimation, particularly in the presence of uncertainty in structural systems. Flexible structures in aerospace and robotics require advanced control to mitigate vibrations under model uncertainty. This paper proposes a data-driven strategy leveraging a Gaussian Process (GP) integrated within a Nonlinear Model Predictive Control (NMPC) framework. The core innovation lies in using a Gaussian Process Nonlinear AutoRegressive model with eXogenous input (GP-NARX) as a probabilistic predictor to capture structural dynamics while quantifying uncertainty. The operational mechanism involves a tight coupling where the GP provides multi-step-ahead forecasts that the NMPC optimizer uses to minimize a cost function subject to constraints. Validated through simulations on Duffing oscillators, linear oscillators, and cantilever beams, the GP-NMPC achieved an 88.2% reduction in displacement amplitude compared to uncontrolled systems. Quantitative analysis shows high predictive accuracy, with a Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 0.0031 and a Standardized Mean-Squared Error (SMSE) below 0.05. Furthermore, Mean Standardized Log Loss (MSLL) evaluations confirm the reliability of the predictive uncertainty within the control loop. These results demonstrate strong performance in both regulation and tracking tasks, justifying this Bayesian-predictive coupling as a powerful approach for high-performance structural vibration control and a potential foundation for bio-inspired mechanical design. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design of Natural and Biomimetic Flexible Biological Structures)
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12 pages, 2153 KB  
Article
High-Performance Polyimides with Enhanced Solubility and Thermal Stability for Biomimetic Structures in Extreme Environment
by Jichao Chen, Jiping Yang, Zhiyong Ma, Zhijian Wang and Yizhuo Gu
Biomimetics 2026, 11(1), 61; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics11010061 - 12 Jan 2026
Viewed by 993
Abstract
Designing the high-performance polyimides (PIs) for the biomimetic structures, which are used in extreme conditions, remains greatly challenging, due to the conflict between processability and thermal stability. Here, we report a series of silicon–alkyne-functionalized diamine-based polyimides that exhibit remarkable processability and thermal stability. [...] Read more.
Designing the high-performance polyimides (PIs) for the biomimetic structures, which are used in extreme conditions, remains greatly challenging, due to the conflict between processability and thermal stability. Here, we report a series of silicon–alkyne-functionalized diamine-based polyimides that exhibit remarkable processability and thermal stability. The incorporation of bulky siloxy groups disrupts chain packing and increases free volume, enabling excellent solubility in polar solvents, while the rigid fluorene core enhances chain stiffness. DFT calculations confirm twisted molecular geometries (Si bond angle ≈ 103°, dihedral angle ≈ 89°) which weak π–π stacking, while heterogeneous electrostatic potentials enable favorable noncovalent interactions (e.g., C–F···H–C), promoting solvent diffusion. After thermal curing, the obtained product shows a high decomposition temperature (Td5% = 560 °C), char yield of 72.0% at 800 °C, and glass transition temperature (Tg) of 354.6 °C. Meanwhile, locally planar fluorene units retain inherent thermal stabilization benefits through constrained rotational mobility. These results demonstrate a spatially decoupled siloxy–alkyne design that synergistically enhances molecular flexibility, disorder, and electronic stability, offering a molecular strategy for tailoring PI-based matrices to meet the demands of emerging biomimetic architectures and other high-performance composites operating under severe thermal loads. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design of Natural and Biomimetic Flexible Biological Structures)
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Review

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45 pages, 10290 KB  
Review
Recent Advances and Retrospective Review in Bioinspired Structures for Fog Water Collection
by Shizhang Dong, Guangze Li, Shaobo Jin, Hong Hu and Guoyong Ye
Biomimetics 2025, 10(12), 791; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics10120791 - 21 Nov 2025
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2722
Abstract
Fog water collection, as a sustainable approach to alleviating water scarcity, has attracted considerable attention due to its low energy consumption and environmental friendliness. Various organisms in nature have evolved unique biological structures that efficiently capture and direct fog water. The fog water [...] Read more.
Fog water collection, as a sustainable approach to alleviating water scarcity, has attracted considerable attention due to its low energy consumption and environmental friendliness. Various organisms in nature have evolved unique biological structures that efficiently capture and direct fog water. The fog water collection structures (FWCSs) and physical mechanisms of these organisms provide valuable inspiration for innovations in fog water collection technologies. This review systematically summarizes biomimetic structures designed for fog water collection, with a focus on representative natural examples such as the Namib desert beetle, cactus spines, spider silk, and Nepenthes mirabilis, highlighting how they achieve efficient fog water capture, coalescence, and transport through special surface textures, wettability regulation, and structural design. The underlying physical mechanisms are discussed in depth, including droplet behavior on micro/nanostructured surfaces, surface energy gradients, and Laplace pressure gradients in directional droplet transport. On this basis, the current challenges in bioinspired FWCSs design are outlined, and future perspectives are proposed. Future research may focus on the multiscale structural optimization of bioinspired FWCSs, the development of dynamically tunable designs, and the use of efficient and sustainable materials to further enhance fog water collection efficiency and ensure the long-term stability of FWCSs. Ultimately, by integrating modern manufacturing technologies and stimuli-responsive materials, bioinspired FWCSs hold great potential for applications in extreme environments, agricultural irrigation, and energy-efficient architecture, offering innovative solutions to the global water crisis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design of Natural and Biomimetic Flexible Biological Structures)
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Other

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10 pages, 404 KB  
Perspective
Soft Active Polymers for Biomimetic Shape Morphing Wings
by Chao Yuan, Changyue Liu and Zhijian Wang
Biomimetics 2026, 11(3), 189; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics11030189 - 5 Mar 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 743
Abstract
In nature, avian species achieve remarkable aerodynamic efficiency by seamlessly coordinating flexible soft tissues to create continuous, adaptive wing surfaces, significantly minimizing drag and eliminating parasitic turbulence. Traditional shape morphing systems rely on bulky mechanical linkages that add excessive weight, often offsetting aerodynamic [...] Read more.
In nature, avian species achieve remarkable aerodynamic efficiency by seamlessly coordinating flexible soft tissues to create continuous, adaptive wing surfaces, significantly minimizing drag and eliminating parasitic turbulence. Traditional shape morphing systems rely on bulky mechanical linkages that add excessive weight, often offsetting aerodynamic gains. The integration of soft active materials has emerged as a transformative solution for weight-efficient, seamless actuation. However, a significant disconnect remains between laboratory-scale research and practical aerospace implementation. This perspective evaluates three prominent classes of soft active materials, shape memory polymers (SMPs), dielectric elastomers (DEAs), and liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs), analyzing their actuation mechanisms and comparing their performance in load-bearing, response bandwidth, and energy efficiency. By addressing the necessity of structural-material synergy, we discuss the potential solution for bridging the gap between material synthesis and system-level flight performance to enable the successful deployment of soft active materials in future aerial platforms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design of Natural and Biomimetic Flexible Biological Structures)
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