This talk will present recent progress on the development of hybrid nano-materials containing synthetic and biosynthetic components for use in bioanalytical applications including separation and biosensing. Examples include the development of mesoporous s ilica microbeads that incorporate functional biomolecular components (e.g., transmembrane proteins in lipid bilayer systems) and stimuli-responsive polymers for the formation of "cell mimics" that preserve biological function in a robust, deterministic, n onliving system. Microscopic beads can be used in a variety of bioanalytical system formats including suspension assays in flow cytometry and microfluidic assays and separations in affinity microcolumns. Several aspects of these bioanalytical systems will be explored including optimization of ligand-receptor pairs for direct transduction of biomolecular recognition, microfluidic considerations, and fluorescence detection principles.