Natural composite systems for bioinspired materials

From a relatively limited selection of base materials, nature has steered the development of truly remarkable materials. The simplest and often overlooked organisms have demonstrated the ability to manufacture multifaceted, molecular-level hierarchical structures that combine mechanical properties rarely seen in synthetic materials. Indeed, these natural composite systems, composed of an array of intricately arranged and functionally relevant organic and inorganic substances serve as inspiration for materials design. A better understanding of these composite systems, specifically at the interface of the hetero-assemblies, would encourage faster development of environmentally friendly “green” materials with molecular level specificities.