Structural light manipulation in natural systems: from fundamental mechanisms to bioinspired photonics

Structural light manipulation has enabled modern photonic devices to control the intensity, phase, and polarization of light using nanoscale structures. Yet, nature has long employed similar strategies through billions of years of evolution. Across biological domains—from single-celled protists to higher plants and animals—submicron architectures exist that interact with light in remarkably efficient ways. Some insects and birds exploit multilayer interference to produce structural colors for communication and camouflage, while more complex nanostructures generate phenomena such as extreme whiteness, blackness, transparency, or polarization control. Comparable photonic elements are also found in plants and microalgae, where they enhance visual signaling, environmental sensing, or photosynthetic efficiency. Investigating these natural systems not only deepens our understanding of light–matter interactions as a survival strategy but also guides the design of next-generation bio-inspired photonic technologies.

This Research Topic aims to explore the vast diversity of photonic nanostructures present in nature—from simple multilayer configurations responsible for the structural colors of many insects, fish, birds, and plants, to more complex architectures in which disorder or hierarchical organization governs the optical function of biological materials. Beyond the numerical and experimental characterization of such systems and their relevance in optics, photonics, and plasmonics, the Topic will encourage submissions presenting novel concepts that translate naturally occurring photonic strategies into practical devices and applications. Contributions spanning from theoretical modeling, to materials synthesis, and the development of optical components inspired by natural systems are welcome.

In line with the aims of this Research Topic, authors are invited to submit original research articles, reviews, or perspectives covering, but not limited to, the following areas:

- Photonic structures in living organisms
- Photonic structures in biomaterials
- Order and disorder in natural photonic architectures
- Biomimetics in optics, photonics, and plasmonics
- Numerical and theoretical modeling of light propagation in biological nanostructures.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• Mini Review
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Technology and Code

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• Mini Review
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: quasi-order, photonic structures in living organisms, optical properties of biomaterials, order, disorder, numerical approximation of light propagation in biological nanostructures, bioinspired optical devices, biomimetics in photonics

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.