Abstract: Natural anisotropic nanostructures occurring in several organisms have gained more and more attention because of their obvious advantages in sensitivity, stability, security, miniaturization, portability, online use, and remote monitoring. Due to the development of research on nature-inspired bionic structures and the demand for highly ef�cient, low-cost microfabrication techniques, an understanding of and the ability to replicate the mechanism of structural coloration have become increasingly signi�cant. These sophisticated structures have many unique functions and are used in many applications. Many sensors have been proposed based on their novel structures and unique optical properties. Several of these bio-inspired sensors have been used for infrared radiation/thermal, pH, and vapor techniques, among others, and have been discussed in detail, with an intense focus on several biomedical applications. However, many applications have yet to be discovered. In this review, we will describe these nanostructured materials based on their sources in nature and various structures, such as layered, hierarchical, and helical structures. In addition, we discuss the functions endowed by these structures, such as superhydrophobicity, adhesion, and high strength, enabling them to be employed in a number of applications in biomedical �elds, including cell cultivation, biosensors, and tissue engineering.