Bioferroics and biomultiferroics: ferroic behaviour of biological systems

The three primary ferroic properties, namely, ferromagnetism, ferroelectricity and ferroelasticity, have been observed in biological systems. The quest for the fourth primary ferroic, namely, ferrotoroidics, along with magnetoelectricity and multiferroic behaviour in biological systems is under way. Control of such bioferroic behaviour by small electric, magnetic and stress fields may lead to novel medical, therapeutic and diagnostic applications.