A discussion is provided of smart nanostructures that are like nanobrushes that can selectively and reversibly sprout from surfaces in response to changes in temperature or solvent chemistry. Such smart nanostructures have been reported by researchers at Duke University. The research team uses atomic force microscope (AFM) to create reprogrammable nanopatterns of large biologically based molecule. They are reprogrammable in that they can be activated, deactivated, and then reactivated. They can act as analytical tools through their ability to capture and isolate proteins of interest from complex mixtures. The nanobrushes/pNIPPM brushes) are created with an approach called grafting-from, which blends scanning probe lithography based on nanoshaving with surface-initiated polymerization using atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). An atomic force microscope's (AFM's) tip is used to nanoshave channels for the initiating chemical. Beams of electrons also can be used to create the nanopatterns, rather than an AFM. Other examples of smart large molecules that interact through molecular recognition (streptavidin, biotin, and polypeptides). Among potential applications is the grabbing of proteins of interest from large multi-molecular mixtures for analysis. The researchers are currently concentrating on improvement of the nanoshaving process; and increasing the effectivness of nanopatterned stimulus-responsive polymer brushes for applications in biosensors.