Biological & Soft Matter Seminar: Chemo mechanical roles of water in biological materials

Abstract:

Water plays essential roles in providing functionality to biological materials. Osmotic pressure leads to plant movement or tissue contraction in animals, providing motility or improving material strength. Water flow within submicrometric channels is related to mechanosensing in bone or to pheromone excretion in moths. Water can also provide lubrication or be involved in the thermal management by phase-change materials. The presentation will provide some examples of these diverse functionalities.