Biological systems include several well-known patterns with different forms and dimensions (nano to macro) such as cracks, whiskers, hierarchical, interlocked, porous, and bristle-like structures, as well as hetero-layered brick-and-mortar structures. These structures and surfaces typically have several functions based on their structure and surface chemistry which include static coloration, self-cleaning, adhesive, underwater navigation and object detection, electric charge generation, and highly sensitive olfactory organ to sense and detect various substances. A new era of bio-inspired sensing materials with an effort to copy structures or functions of living creatures (i.e. plant and animals) has recently attracted widespread attention. This review summarizes the latest developments in bio-inspired sensing and biosensing materials and focuses on the design and mechanisms to analyse their potential in multifunctional sensing applications. Primarily, this review highlights various bioinspired structural features and their functional properties, followed by an overview of the fundamental mechanisms of distinct living creatures, including animals and plants, in brief. Thereafter, various sensing and biosensing applications of these nature-inspired structures/functions are elaborately described. Finally, the challenges and prospects of nature-inspired smart sensing and biosensing technology for the 21st century are provided.

生物系统包括几种众所周知的具有不同形式和尺寸（纳米到宏观）的模式，例如裂缝、晶须、分层、互锁、多孔和刷毛状结构，以及异质分层实体结构。这些结构和表面通常基于其结构和表面化学具有多种功能，包括静态着色、自清洁、粘合、水下导航和物体检测、电荷生成以及高度灵敏的嗅觉器官以感知和检测各种物质。仿生传感材料的新时代，旨在复制生物（即植物和动物）的结构或功能，最近引起了广泛关注。本综述总结了仿生传感和生物传感材料的最新发展，并重点介绍了分析其在多功能传感应用中潜力的设计和机制。首先，这篇综述重点介绍了各种仿生结构特征及其功能特性，然后简要概述了包括动植物在内的不同生物的基本机制。此后，详细描述了这些受自然启发的结构/功能的各种传感和生物传感应用。最后，提出了21世纪仿生智能传感和生物传感技术面临的挑战和前景。本综述重点介绍了各种仿生结构特征及其功能特性，然后简要概述了不同生物（包括动物和植物）的基本机制。此后，详细描述了这些受自然启发的结构/功能的各种传感和生物传感应用。最后，提出了21世纪仿生智能传感和生物传感技术面临的挑战和前景。本综述重点介绍了各种仿生结构特征及其功能特性，然后简要概述了不同生物（包括动物和植物）的基本机制。此后，详细描述了这些受自然启发的结构/功能的各种传感和生物传感应用。最后，提出了21世纪仿生智能传感和生物传感技术面临的挑战和前景。