Hierarchical Organization of Biomaterials in the Formation of Photonic Nanostructures.

Abstract

Biological organisms produce diverse nanostructures, some of which generate structural color through their interaction with light. The distinctive properties of structural color have inspired efforts across multiple fields to reproduce these effects through bottom-up approaches using natural and synthetic materials. Despite substantial research on the optical mechanisms of structural coloration, how natural photonic nanostructures develop, particularly how molecular interactions and biological regulation enable higher-order organization, remains incompletely understood, despite their potential to inspire new low-cost methods of manufacturing nanostructures. This review provides a comprehensive overview of organization into photonic nanostructures, focusing on four of the most prevalent biomaterials (cellulose, chitin, corneous beta-proteins (CBPs), and melanin). We first examine their formation using a common hierarchical framework encompassing: 1) biological regulation and synthesis, 2) molecular building blocks, 3) intermediate structural units, 4) mesoscale organization, and 5) photonic architecture and optical function. We then discuss the molecular interactions and mesoscale assembly mechanisms that connect these hierarchical levels, together with computational approaches ranging from atomistic and molecular simulations to continuum modeling and artificial intelligence. By integrating biological, physical, and computational perspectives, this review clarifies how natural photonic nanostructures develop and provides a foundation for biomimetic approaches to nanostructural fabrication.

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