Bio-nanomaterials and Composites in Artistry and Cultural Heritage Preservation

The preservation of artistry and cultural heritage provides unique values and a deep understanding that connects the people to their identities in history. This ensures cultural continuity and safeguards the transfer of generational knowledge. Bionanomaterials provide a promising approach for the restoration and preservation of the various artworks while preserving the natural environment without hurting fauna. The unique combination of nanomaterials and biological components produces materials and composites which are lightweight, biocompatible, have good mechanical properties and, most importantly, are eco-friendly. This provides great opportunities for application in restoring and preserving historical artworks from environmental contaminants that result in short to long-term damages. In this chapter, we discuss the application of bio-nanomaterials and composites in artistry and cultural heritage preservation under three (3) distinct areas: bio-nano and composite materials in artistry; methods of fabrication and applications, economic role in conservation and restoration, safety concerns, challenges and regulatory issues. We present case studies of real-world applications of these bionanocomposite nanomaterials in the preservation of artworks and culture. We further discuss the role of bio-nanocomposites in cultural anthropology research and conclude with insights into the most promising areas for future studies on bionanocomposite applications in artistry and cultural heritage preservation with a focus on reducing environmental and societal impacts.