Nano‐dielectrics in biosystems

Abstract

Abstract Here, the nano‐sized dielectrics in biosystems and their functions are reviewed. For a variety of electromagnetic phenomena observed in biosystems, from a generation of weak electrical pulses in all kinds of neural systems to generation of high‐power electrical pulses for sensing and attacking preys in electric eels, nano‐dielectrics, such as lipid membrane, always play an important role. The electromagnetic pulses in neural systems are created by transmembrane ionic fluxes through a cluster of ion channels embedded in a lipid membrane, but the high‐power pulses released by electric eels are simultaneously generated by billions of ion channels. An overlooked function of the nano‐dielectrics is that they build up a network serving as the major transmitting paths for electromagnetic pulses in dendrites and axons, and even in ordinary cell membranes. Many fundamental questions in the working mechanisms of nano‐dielectrics in nature biosystems remain open and answers to these questions may lead to novel, high‐efficiency manmade power supplies and a better understanding of brain functions.

Keywords

• neurophysiology
• lipid bilayers
• bioelectric potentials
• molecular biophysics
• biomembrane transport
• biochemistry