Supramolecular Nanomimetics: Replication of Micelles, Viruses, and Other Naturally Occurring Nanoscale Objects

Replicas of naturally occurring structures, including viruses (see image, left), micelles (center), and carbon nanotubes (right) are made from fluoropolymer molds templated from naturally occurring objects. The successful integration of imprint fabrication with bottom-up self-assembly is demonstrated for integrated nanopatterning, which may have applications in many diverse areas such as sensors, implantable biomaterials, and medical therapies.