Thermo-fluidic devices and materials inspired from mass and energy transport phenomena in biological system

Abstract

Mass and energy transport consists of one of the most significant physiological processes in nature, which guarantees many amazing biological phenomena and activities. Borrowing such idea, many state-of-the-art thermo-fluidic devices and materials such as artificial kidneys, carrier erythrocyte, blood substitutes and so on have been successfully invented. Besides, new emerging technologies are still being developed. This paper is dedicated to presenting a relatively complete review of the typical devices and materials in clinical use inspired by biological mass and energy transport mechanisms. Particularly, these artificial thermo-fluidic devices and materials will be categorized into organ transplantation, drug delivery, nutrient transport, micro operation, and power supply. Potential approaches for innovating conventional technologies were discussed, corresponding biological phenomena and physical mechanisms were interpreted, future promising mass-and-energy-transport-based bionic devices were suggested, and prospects along this direction were pointed out. It is expected that many artificial devices based on biological mass and energy transport principle will appear to better improve various fields related to human life in the near future.

Keywords

bionics / mass transport / energy transport / artificial devices and materials / biology system / nature phenomena / medical device.