Brinker established the first comprehensive synthesis-structure-property relationships for solution-based inorganic materials synthesis, so-called sol-gel processing, creating a foundation for much of modern day 'bottom-up' nanoscale materials synthesis. Combining sol-gel processing with molecular self-assembly, he developed robust evaporative procedures to form highly ordered periodic mesophases. Today this 'Evaporation-induced self-assembly' process is used worldwide to create ordered porous and composite thin-film and particulate nanostructures. Mimicking the structure of natural cells, Brinker conceived of mesoporous silica nanoparticles encapsulated within supported lipid bilayers.