Ceramic filters are an effective, low-cost solution for water potabilization, particularly in rural communities. The integration of 3D printing has advanced this traditional approach by enabling precise control over design parameters that govern filtration efficiency. Gyroid-type ceramic scaffolds for water treatment were fabricated by clay-based extrusion 3D printing. Two ceramic pastes (ECP 1 and ECP 2) containing kaolin, attapulgite, alumina, and feldspar were formulated; ECP 2 incorporated 10 wt% activated carbon as a sacrificial porogenic phase. Rheological characterization using rotational rheometry and Bingham model fitting identified 40 wt% water as optimal for extrusion. Sintering at 1100°C produced interconnected open-pore networks in ECP 2 (apparent porosity: 23.6%; water absorption: 11.8%). Scaffolds were functionalized with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and ethanolic extracts of Moringa oleifera. AgNPs exhibited surface plasmon resonance at 422 nm; silver leaching was 0.00282 ppm (WHO limit: 0.1 ppm). Ethanolic extract E2 (80% v/v) showed significantly lower MIC (0.175 g/mL) than E1 (0.35 g/mL; p < 0.05) and bactericidal activity (MBC/MIC ⩽ 4.0). Functionalized scaffolds (EG) reduced biofilm formation by 80%-95% versus controls at 24 h (MTT assay) and maintained cellular compatibility above the 80% ISO 10993-5 threshold at 7 days. This combination of properties positions them as a highly promising alternative for advanced ceramic water filters.

Viper fangs represent one of the most mechanically sophisticated biological penetration devices found in nature. Despite extensive interest in their venom-delivery function, a comprehensive characterization of the structure, composition, and biomechanics of neotropical viper fangs remains lacking. This study presents the first integrated analysis of the tubular fangs of three Latin American viper species - Lachesis acrochorda, Crotalus durissus cumanensis, and Bothrops asper - combining optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution X-ray computed tomography, attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, Vickers microindentation, compression testing, and high-speed strike kinematics. All three species exhibited fangs composed of aprismatic enamel concentrated at the tip and a dentinal body organized around a fused venom-conducting canal, producing three distinct regions: an outer C-region, an inner C-region, and a suture line. Dentinal tubules were significantly branched throughout the fang length. The chemical composition, dominated by biological apatite and an organic collagen matrix, was consistent across species and comparable to crocodilian and chondrichthyan teeth. Vickers hardness in dentin ranged from approximately 0.4 to 0.6 GPa and varied along the fang axis. Hydrated fangs withstood compressive loads up to 30 N and stresses up to 110 MPa before failure near the tip, with a radial fracture mode distinct from that of dried specimens. Strike velocities ranged from 2.0 to 2.6 m/s during defensive strikes, with kinetic energies of approximately 2.5 to 3.0 J, neither differing significantly among species. These results demonstrate that neotropical vipers share a conserved fang design with implications for bioinspired penetration devices and functionally graded hard-tissue biomaterials. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Viper fangs integrate controlled compositional gradients, hierarchical microstructure, and macro-scale curvature into a biological penetration system capable of repeated high-energy tissue puncture. This study provides the first integrated, fully hydrated characterization of the tubular fangs of three neotropical viper species - Lachesis acrochorda, Crotalus durissus cumanensis, and Bothrops asper - spanning microstructural imaging, compositional spectroscopy, mechanical testing, and high-speed strike kinematics. The findings reveal conserved structural solutions across species differing markedly in body size: an enamel gradient at the tip, branched dentinal tubules in three morphologically distinct regions, suture lines potentially contributing to impact-energy absorption, and dentin hardness comparable to human and crocodilian teeth. These results offer design principles for bioinspired penetration devices and functionally graded hard-tissue biomaterials.

Ceramic filters are an effective, low-cost solution for water potabilization, particularly in rural communities. The integration of 3D printing has advanced this traditional approach by enabling precise control over design parameters that govern filtration efficiency. Gyroid-type ceramic scaffolds for water treatment were fabricated by clay-based extrusion 3D printing. Two ceramic pastes (ECP 1 and ECP 2) containing kaolin, attapulgite, alumina, and feldspar were formulated; ECP 2 incorporated 10 wt% activated carbon as a sacrificial porogenic phase. Rheological characterization using rotational rheometry and Bingham model fitting identified 40 wt% water as optimal for extrusion. Sintering at 1100°C produced interconnected open-pore networks in ECP 2 (apparent porosity: 23.6%; water absorption: 11.8%). Scaffolds were functionalized with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and ethanolic extracts of Moringa oleifera . AgNPs exhibited surface plasmon resonance at 422 nm; silver leaching was 0.00282 ppm (WHO limit: 0.1 ppm). Ethanolic extract E2 (80% v/v) showed significantly lower MIC (0.175 g/mL) than E1 (0.35 g/mL; p < 0.05) and bactericidal activity (MBC/MIC ⩽ 4.0). Functionalized scaffolds (EG) reduced biofilm formation by 80%–95% versus controls at 24 h (MTT assay) and maintained cellular compatibility above the 80% ISO 10993-5 threshold at 7 days. This combination of properties positions them as a highly promising alternative for advanced ceramic water filters.

Ceramic stereolithography scaffolds with designs based on triple periodic minimal surfaces (TPMS) were developed for potential applications in bone tissue regeneration. An acrylic-based resin with calcium phosphate nanoparticles were used. Particles were synthesized via Combustion in solution, resulting in hydroxyapatite and β-TCP phases. Suspensions with 35, 40, and 50 vol

Over the past two decades, gold nanoparticles have gained much attention because of their unique qualities, such as optical effects, catalytic response, high surface area, and low toxicity. Chemical synthesis and pulsed laser ablation are the primary methods to create these nanoparticles. However, pulsed laser ablation can be expensive because it requires specialized lasers. Using low-cost, continuous-wave lasers is suggested to create gold nanoparticles with diameters of approximately 100 nm. Two different gold target thicknesses were used to observe particle production at different irradiation times and pulse durations. Also, a simple approximation was used to estimate the on/off duration based on target thickness, which yielded good results. This technique can be implemented without incurring high costs, increasing the global ability to produce and use nanoparticles for various purposes.

Scaffolds are devices that mimic the characteristics of the extracellular matrix; they are highly porous, with welldistributed and interconnected pores. Tissue engineering proposes scaffolds as an alternative treatment for different diseases and injuries affecting bone tissue. Triply periodic minimal surfaces (TPMS) are geometric structures whose characteristics fit well with the scaffold's requirements. Ceramic stereolithography enables the production of these complex geometries with high precision using ceramic materials. Alumina (Al2O3) is a wellknown ceramic material appreciated for its chemical and mechanical stability properties. The biomedical use of alumina as an alternative to replace metallic parts in bone components has been increasing. In this work, a suspension of alumina particles in a photopolymerizable resin is developed in order to be implemented in the printing of ceramic scaffolds with TPMS-type geometries by ceramic stereolithography for potential biomedical applications. The resin used was characterized in a different work by TGA and FTIR (Duque et al., 2023) and is acrylic in nature, also the alumina particles were characterized by DTP and XRD, these are micrometer sized and a showed an alpha-alumina phase with a high degree of crystallinity. The rheological behavior of the suspension was studied with ceramic load percentages of 35, 40, and 50 vol% in order to choose the most favorable conditions for piece printing. The three suspensions presented low viscosities, being the 50 vol% sample the one that presented the highest viscosity, with an average value of 0.77 Pa s. These viscosities were suitable for the ceramic stereolithography printing process. The 50 vol% suspension was characterized by TGA and DSC and did not show any difference compared to the resin without particles. Scaffolds with TPMS Gyroid and Schwartz P geometry were obtained by ceramic stereolithography and characterized morphologically and mechanically before and after sintering. The thermal treatment was successful. The polymer-ceramic scaffolds before sintering exhibited better compression resistance than the sintered ones. Fully ceramic scaffolds with gyroid geometry showed compressive strength values of 0.4 MPa, which is comparable to human trabecular bone. The best compression resistance was for the samples with the gyroid geometry. Since the 50 vol% sintered scaffolds with gyroid geometry showed better mechanical results, they were impregnated with propolis extracts from the Arauca region of Colombia in order to evaluate their antimicrobial activity against the standard strains Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 29212) and Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922). The evaluated scaffolds exhibited better antibacterial activity against the S. aureus strain. After sintering, the 50Al scaffolds were submitted to a degradation test in phosphatebuffered saline (PBS) to assess the chemical stability of the alumina. The results indicated that the samples maintained their initial weight throughout the testing period, with measurements taken on days 1, 5, 8, and 12 showing no significant changes in weight loss percentage. This stability suggests that the alumina scaffolds possess robust chemical resistance under the tested conditions.

Context: The development of porous devices using materials modified with various natural agents has become a priority for bone healing processes in the oral and maxillofacial field. There must be a balance between the proliferation of eukaryotic and the inhibition of prokaryotic cells to achieve proper bone health. Infections might inhibit the formation of new alveolar bone during bone graft augmentation.Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro osteogenic behavior of human bone marrow stem cells and assess the antimicrobial response to 3D-printed porous scaffolds using propolis-modified wollastonite.Methodology: A fractional factorial design of experiments was used to obtain a 3D printing paste for developing scaffolds with a triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) gyroid geometry based on wollastonite and modified with an ethanolic propolis extract. The antioxidant activity of the extracts was characterized using free radical scavenging methods (DPPH and ABTS). Cell proliferation and osteogenic potential using Human Bone Marrow Stem Cells (bmMSCs) were assessed at different culture time points up to 28 days. MIC and inhibition zones were studied from single strain cultures, and biofilm formation was evaluated on the scaffolds under co-culture conditions. The mechanical strength of the scaffolds was evaluated.Results: Through statistical design of experiments, a paste suitable for printing scaffolds with the desired geometry was obtained. Propolis extracts modifying the TPMS gyroid scaffolds showed favorable cell proliferation and metabolic activity with osteogenic potential after 21 days. Additionally, propolis exhibited antioxidant activity, which may be related to the antimicrobial effectiveness of the scaffolds against S. aureus and S. epidermidis cultures. The mechanical properties of the scaffolds were not affected by propolis impregnation.Conclusion: These results demonstrate that propolis-impregnated porous wollastonite scaffolds might have the potential to stimulate bone repair in maxillofacial tissue engineering applications.

In the present work, scaffolds with gyroid TPMS geometry were obtained from a commercial resin of acrylic nature loaded with 0.5% and 1% w/V of calcium phosphate nanoparticles through DLP. The scaffolds obtained presented Young's Modulus between 300 and 400 MPa, which makes them suitable for bone applications. The surface treatment by oxygen plasma carried out on the scaffolds resulted in a notable improvement in the wettability of the surfaces, which favours cell adhesion on the surface of the materials. The in vitro bioactivity assay conducted on the resin/calcium phosphate particles composite material showed that an apatitic layer forms on the surface of the samples from the third day of exposure to simulated body fluid (SBF), indicating that the composite material has in vitro bioactive behaviour. Biological tests demonstrated that the material is not cytotoxic and favours cell adhesion and that the gyroid geometry promotes cell proliferation. Graphical abstract

Candida albicans is an opportunistic yeast and the primary etiological factor in oral candidiasis and denture stomatitis. The pathogenesis of C. albicans could be triggered by several variables, including environmental, nutritional, and biomaterial surface cues. Specifically, biomaterial interactions are driven by different surface properties, including wettability, stiffness, and roughness. Dental biomaterials experience repetitive (cyclic) stresses from chewing and biomechanical movements. Pathogenic biofilms are formed over these biomaterial surfaces under cyclic strain. This study investigated the effect of the cyclic strain (deformation) of biomaterial surfaces on the virulence of Candida albicans. Candida biofilms were grown over Poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) surfaces subjected to static (no strain) and cyclic strain with different levels ( epsilon similar to x = 0.1 and 0.2%). To evaluate the biomaterial-biofilm interactions, the biofilm characteristics, yeast-to-hyphae transition, and the expression of virulent genes were measured. Results showed the biofilm biomass and metabolic activity to be significantly higher when Candida adhered to surfaces subjected to cyclic strain compared to static surfaces. Examination of the yeast-to-hyphae transition showed pseudo-hyphae cells (pathogenic) in cyclically strained biomaterial surfaces, whereas static surfaces showed spherical yeast cells (commensal). RNA sequencing was used to determine and compare the transcriptome profiles of cyclically strained and static surfaces. Genes and transcription factors associated with cell adhesion ( CSH1, PGA10, and RBT5 ), biofilm formation ( EFG1 ), and secretion of extracellular matrix (ECM) ( CRH1, ADH5, GCA1, and GCA2 ) were significantly upregulated in the cyclically strained biomaterial surfaces compared to static ones. Genes and transcription factors associated with virulence ( UME6 and HGC1) and the secretion of extracellular enzymes ( LIP, PLB , and SAP families) were also significantly upregulated in the cyclically strained biomaterial surfaces compared to static. For the first time, this study reveals a biomaterial surface factor triggering the pathogenesis of Candida albicans , which is essential for understanding, controlling, and preventing oral infections.

Biocompatible ceramic scaffolds offer a promising approach to address the challenges in bone reconstruction. Wollastonite, well-known for its exceptional biocompatibility, has attracted significant attention in orthopedics and craniofacial fields. However, the antimicrobial properties of wollastonite have contradictory findings, necessitating further research to enhance its antibacterial characteristics. This study aimed to explore a new approach to improve in vitro biological response in terms of antimicrobial activity and cell proliferation by taking advantage of additive manufacturing for the development of scaffolds with complex geometries by 3D printing using propolis-modified wollastonite. The scaffolds were designed with a TPMS (Triply Periodic Minimal Surface) gyroid geometric shape and 3D printed prior to impregnation with propolis extract. The paste formulation was characterized by rheometric measurements, and the presence of propolis was confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy. The scaffolds were comprehensively assessed for their mechanical strength. The biological characterization involved evaluating the antimicrobial effects against Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis, employing Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), Zone of Inhibition (ZOI), and biofilm formation assays. Additionally, SaOs-2 cultures were used to study cell proliferation (Alamar blue assay), and potential osteogenic was tested (von Kossa, Alizarin Red, and ALP stainings) at different time points. Propolis impregnation did not compromise the mechanical properties of the scaffolds, which exhibited values comparable to human trabecular bone. Propolis incorporation conferred antibacterial activity against both Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis. The implementation of TPMS gyroid geometry in the scaffold design demonstrated favorable cell proliferation with increased metabolic activity and osteogenic potential after 21 days of cell cultures.

Mineralized tissues like bone and dentin are materials that support the distribution of mechanical loads through the body of humans and other animals. While their organic content plays a critical role on the structural behavior of these materials, investigations that quantify the structural properties of collagen fibrils in mineralized tissues at the nanoscale are rather limited. We report a new experimental methodology to prepare samples of dentinal collagen fibrils for evaluation by atomic force microscopy and characterize their mechanical behavior. Specifically, a Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) of the collagen fibrils was performed to study their viscoelastic behavior. The capacity for viscous dampening in the fibrils was characterized in terms of measures of the energy dissipation, phase angle and loss modulus in both the peak and trough regions of the fibrils. According to the phase angle and the loss modulus, the peak regions of the fibrils exhibit significantly greater stiffness and capacity for dampening than the trough regions. This new approach will help in exploring the role of collagen fibrils in the mechanical behavior of dentin and other mineralized tissues as well as help to understand the potential effects from changes in fibril confirmation with tissue treatments, aging or that result from chronic disease.

The increase in critical bone diseases and defects in the world's population increases the need for bone substitutes to restore form and function. Organic and inorganic scaffolds with antibacterial properties could provide advantages for bone regeneration. In this study, we obtained scaffolds of polycaprolactone (PCL) charged with calcium phosphates nanoparticles and impregnated with extracts of Colombian plants as an alternative for potential bone regeneration. Calcium phosphate nanoparticles were obtained via auto-combustion synthesis. The nanoparticles were incorporated into the PCL with a chemical dissolution-disperse process. The composite obtained was used to produce a filament to print Triply Periodic Minimal Surface (TPMS) based scaffolds. Such geometry facilitates cellular growth thanks to its interconnected porosity. The scaffolds were impregnated with extracts of Justicia cf colorifera (Acanthaceae), and Billia rosea (Sapindaceae) due to their ancestral medical applications. A physical and biological characterization was conducted. The process to print scaffolds with an enhanced geometry to facilitate the flux of biological fluids was successful. The scaffolds loaded with B. rosea showed strong antibacterial behavior, suggesting the presence of reported terpenoids with antibacterial properties. The approach used in this study evidenced promising prospects for bone defect repair.

Several diseases and injuries cause irreversible damage to bone tissues, which may require partial or total regeneration or replacement. Tissue engineering suggests developing substitutes that may contribute to the repair or regeneration process by using three-dimensional lattices (scaffolds) to create functional bone tissues. Herein, scaffolds comprising polylactic acid and wollastonite particles enriched with propolis extracts from the Arauca region of Colombia were developed as gyroid triply periodic minimal surfaces using fused deposition modeling. The propolis extracts exhibited antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25175) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (ATCC 12228), which cause osteomyelitis. The scaffolds were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, contact angle, swelling, and degradation. Their mechanical properties were assessed using static and dynamic tests. Cell viability/proliferation assay was conducted using hDP-MSC cultures, while their bactericidal properties against monospecies cultures (S. aureus and S. epidermidis) and cocultures were evaluated. The wollastonite particles did not affect the physical, mechanical, or thermal properties of the scaffolds. The contact angle results showed that there were no substantial differences in the hydrophobicity between scaffolds with and without particles. Scaffolds containing wollastonite particles suffered less degradation than those produced using PLA alone. A representative result of the cyclic tests at Fmax = 450 N showed that the maximum strain reached after 8000 cycles is well below the yield strain (i.e., <7.5%), thereby indicating that even under these stringent conditions, these scaffolds will be able to work properly. The scaffolds impregnated with propolis showed a lower % of cell viability using hDP-MSCs on the 3rd day, but these values increased on the 7th day. These scaffolds exhibited antibacterial activity against the monospecies cultures of S. aureus and S. epidermidis and their cocultures. The samples without propolis loads did not show inhibition halos, whereas those loaded with EEP exhibited halos of 17.42 ± 0.2 mm against S. aureus and 12.9 ± 0.5 mm against S. epidermidis. These results made the scaffolds possible bone substitutes that exert control over species with a proliferative capacity for the biofilm-formation processes required for typical severe infectious processes.

Bone mineral has a complex 3D architecture that is essential to its mechanical properties. It is a complex calcium phosphate phase related to hydroxyapatite that also contains significant quantities of cell respiration metabolites, in particular: carbonate, citrate and lactate. An as-yet unanswered question is what, if any, role do these metabolites collectively play in determining the 3D architecture of bone mineral? Here we synthesize apatitic materials by transformation from precursor mineral phases containing citrate, lactate or carbonate so that the synthesis environment mimics the densely-packed ionic environment within which bone mineral forms in vivo, and so that we can understand the mineral factors that may direct bone mineral 3D architecture. We show that incorporating citrate and lactate leads to complex mineral architectures reminiscent of those in bone mineral, including curvature of the mineral crystals. Our results suggest that metabolic acids may assist the moulding of bone mineral to restricted spaces available for mineral in in vivo bone. We find that the incorporation of lactate creates a softer material and inhibits the transformation towards apatitic structures, which may help to explain why foetal bone – necessarily soft – contains considerable quantities of lactate. High levels of plasma citrate have been previously found to correlate with high bone mineral density. Here we find that citrate incorporation leads to mineral crystal curvature modelling that in in vivo bone mineral suggesting its importance in mineral morphology. We conclude that metabolic anions may play an important role in controlling bone mineral physicochemical properties and 3D architecture.

AbstractFish scales are among the structural materials in nature that are inspiring the design and development of “next‐generation” engineering materials. Fish scales possess a mineralization gradient that divides their thickness into three unique regions, each containing characteristic structures and properties. Here, experiments and complementary numerical modeling are performed to understand the importance of the different geometrical and mechanical parameters affecting the structural behavior of fish scales. Numerical modeling results showed that the stiffness and work to fracture of the scales in flexure are dependent on the amplitude and wavelength of the limiting layer profile. Furthermore, the mechanical response in bending of the scales can be effectively tuned by the suture profile location within the limiting layer thickness. These results highlight the opportunity to tailor the mechanical response of flexible composite laminates through the architecture of the layers and their interfaces to effectively control the protecto‐flexibility.Key Points This work combines the disciplines of structural biology, materials science and mechanical engineering to identify the key contributions of the microstructure to the inherent protecto‐flexibility of fish scales, a class of natural dermal armor. The interdisciplinary approach enables an identification of how nature adjusts specific morphological parameters to modulate both flexiblity and protection from physical threats.

Background. The ceramics industry produces porcelain pastes using a controlled ratio of water and porcelain powder. Two methods are used to produce a dental porcelain paste: one-step mixing or incremental mixing. Objective. To evaluate the optical properties of a feldspathic dental ceramic using two different ceramic paste preparation methods using a Bayesian approach. Materials and Methods. Two groups of feldspathic porcelain discs, an incremental mixing group (n = 40) and a one-step mixing group (n = 40), were assessed. Groups were evaluated using spectrophotometry, and the translucency parameter (TP) of each sample was calculated. Surfaces were characterized by AFM and SEM. Statistical analysis was performed using a Bayesian approach. Results. Translucency parameter values of the incremental mixing group ranged from 1.65 to 3.41, while values for the one-step mixing group ranged from 3.62 to 5.74, this difference being statistically significant. The lowest roughness was obtained on the surface of discs in the one-step mixing group. Conclusions. Feldspathic porcelain with lower translucency and higher roughness was obtained using the incremental mixture method.

The natural armors and weapons of the animal kingdom are serving as inspiration in the development of next-generation engineering materials. In this pursuit, seldom considered are the variations in properties across taxa that have evolved to meet their unique functional demands. Here, teeth from six different mammalian species were acquired and categorized according to their bite force quotient (BFQ), which accounts for the allometric scaling between bite force and body size. Selected chemical, microstructural, and mechanical properties of the enamel were quantified across the enamel thickness using spectroscopy and indentation techniques. Results showed that the chemical composition of enamel was significantly (P < 0.05) different between the Low and High BFQ groups, whereas the apatite crystallinity was not. The enamel of all animals exhibited a spatial gradient in mechanical properties that was consistent when evaluated using a normalized framework. Although the elastic modulus, hardness and indentation brittleness were significantly lower in the High BFQ group, the fracture resistance of enamel was significantly higher in this group, potentially reflective of bite force requirements related to diet and predation. Enamel rod decussation was present in all teeth, but there were differences in specific microstructural features. Overall, these results highlight that the diversity of tooth enamel across species should be considered in the pursuit of nature-inspired structural materials. Statement of significance Natural weapons are serving as inspiration in the development of next-generation engineering materials. Tooth enamel is a viable candidate, but variations in the structure and properties of enamel across taxa have not been explored. Here, teeth from six different mammalian species were categorized according to their bite force quotient (BFQ), and the enamel was compared in terms of selected chemical, microstructural, and mechanical properties. We show that specific aspects of the chemical composition and properties of the Low and High BFQ groups are unique, which appears reflective of bite forces associated with diet and predation. Overall, the results highlight that the diversity of tooth enamel across species should be considered in the pursuit of nature-inspired structural materials. (c) 2021 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Dental ceramics made from Yttria stabilized tetragonal Zirconia polycrystalline (Y-TZP) with feldspathic porcelain veneers have similar mechanical and aesthetic response to natural tooth. However, cases of early failure, such as chipping or fracture in the veneering have been reported after short periods of use. The present study evaluated the feldspathic porcelain (VITA-VM9) with addition of 0.5 and 2.5 wt% Alumina-Zirconia as reinforcing agents. Hardness, fracture toughness, contact resistance and color variations were evaluated finding better mechanical performance on the new formulations.

The search for impact‐tolerant, light‐weight flexible materials has challenged materials scientists and engineers for decades. In this quest, many researchers have focused on studying natural armor as a guide to propose bioinspired materials with enhanced properties. The energy dissipation and flexibility mechanisms activated at different hierarchical structural levels of natural systems are used here as a guide to improve the energy and flexibility of synthetic materials. In particular, fish scales and osteoderms are selected as proper biological models to develop a novel family of cost‐effective bioinspired protecto‐flexible (Pf) materials. Furthermore, a bullet‐proof protecto‐flexible prototype is manufactured and tested. The ballistic tests suggest that under real stringent conditions, the system is capable of absorbing high levels of energy while remaining flexible enough to allow movement to the user. Remarkably, the material system developed allows its implementation into realistic high volumes of production with low added costs. Consequently, the proposed strategy for developing bioinspired Pf materials will enable the development of the next generation of high‐performance impact‐resistant materials.

Modern nanofabrication processes on metals, polymers, and ceramics often require deforming these materials at strain rates ranging similar to 10(1) -10(7) s(-1). Therefore, there is a need to develop an appropriate methodology capable of measuring and predicting the effects of these deformation rates on the final mechanical response of the nanomaterial being processed. Here we report an experimental study of the indentation response of three materials with different nature and mechanical properties, but with known time-dependent mechanical responses. These materials allow validation of the findings under a wide variety of conditions. One metal (Pb), and two polymers (PMMA and PS), were indented at the sub-20 nm scale using commercial atomic force microscopy (AFM) probes. Based on our experimental findings, we also propose an analytical model for creeping solids in which their nanoscale mechanical behavior is completely described by two components: an elastic component (characterized by the Hertz contact model) and a time-dependent component (characterized by a power-law model). The proposed experimental protocol is easy to implement, and the analytical model can be extended to a large variety of materials. The ability to characterize the time-dependence of the mechanical response of different materials at the nanoscale will enable a better estimation of the effect of manufacturing processes on the properties and performance of nanomaterials.