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BMC Oral Health Feb 2023Biomimetics is a branch of science that explores the technical beauty of nature. The concept of biomimetics has been brilliantly applied in famous applications such as... (Review)
Review
Biomimetics is a branch of science that explores the technical beauty of nature. The concept of biomimetics has been brilliantly applied in famous applications such as the design of the Eiffel Tower that has been inspired from the trabecular structure of bone. In dentistry, the purpose of using biomimetic concepts and protocols is to conserve tooth structure and vitality, increase the longevity of restorative dental treatments, and eliminate future retreatment cycles. Biomimetic dental materials are inherently biocompatible with excellent physico-chemical properties. They have been successfully applied in different dental fields with the advantages of enhanced strength, sealing, regenerative and antibacterial abilities. Moreover, many biomimetic materials were proven to overcome significant limitations of earlier available generation counterpart. Therefore, this review aims to spot the light on some recent developments in the emerging field of biomimetics especially in restorative and regenerative dentistry. Different approaches of restoration, remineralisation and regeneration of teeth are also discussed in this review. In addition, various biomimetic dental restorative materials and tissue engineering materials are discussed.
Topics: Humans; Biomimetics; Tissue Engineering; Tooth; Dental Care; Biocompatible Materials
PubMed: 36797710
DOI: 10.1186/s12903-023-02808-3 -
Biomedical Engineering Online Feb 2020The organ-on-a-chip (OOAC) is in the list of top 10 emerging technologies and refers to a physiological organ biomimetic system built on a microfluidic chip. Through a... (Review)
Review
The organ-on-a-chip (OOAC) is in the list of top 10 emerging technologies and refers to a physiological organ biomimetic system built on a microfluidic chip. Through a combination of cell biology, engineering, and biomaterial technology, the microenvironment of the chip simulates that of the organ in terms of tissue interfaces and mechanical stimulation. This reflects the structural and functional characteristics of human tissue and can predict response to an array of stimuli including drug responses and environmental effects. OOAC has broad applications in precision medicine and biological defense strategies. Here, we introduce the concepts of OOAC and review its application to the construction of physiological models, drug development, and toxicology from the perspective of different organs. We further discuss existing challenges and provide future perspectives for its application.
Topics: Animals; Biomimetics; Humans; Lab-On-A-Chip Devices
PubMed: 32050989
DOI: 10.1186/s12938-020-0752-0 -
Advanced Science (Weinheim,... Apr 2021Photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer is limited by tumor hypoxia. Platinum nanoparticles (nano-Pt) as a catalase-like nanoenzyme can enhance PDT through catalytic oxygen...
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer is limited by tumor hypoxia. Platinum nanoparticles (nano-Pt) as a catalase-like nanoenzyme can enhance PDT through catalytic oxygen supply. However, the cytotoxic activity of nano-Pt is not comprehensively considered in the existing methods to exert their multifunctional antitumor effects. Here, nano-Pt are loaded into liposomes via reverse phase evaporation. The clinical photosensitizer verteporfin (VP) is loaded in the lipid bilayer to confer PDT activity. Murine macrophage cell membranes are hybridized into the liposomal membrane to confer biomimetic and targeting features. The resulting liposomal system, termed "nano-Pt/VP@MLipo," is investigated for chemophototherapy in vitro and in vivo in mouse tumor models. At the tumor site, oxygen produced by nano-Pt catalyzation improves the VP-mediated PDT, which in turn triggers the release of nano-Pt via membrane permeabilization. The ultrasmall 3-5 nm nano-Pt enables better penetration in tumors, which is also facilitated by the generated oxygen gas, for enhanced chemotherapy. Chemophototherapy with a single injection of nano-Pt/VP@MLipo and light irradiation inhibits the growth of aggressive 4T1 tumors and their lung metastasis, and prolongs animal survival without overt toxicity.
Topics: Animals; Biomimetics; Breast Neoplasms; Female; Liposomes; Metal Nanoparticles; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Photochemotherapy; Photosensitizing Agents; Platinum
PubMed: 33898179
DOI: 10.1002/advs.202003679 -
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach,... Apr 2017Cell-membrane-coated nanoparticles have recently been studied extensively for their biological compatibility, retention of cellular properties, and adaptability to a...
Cell-membrane-coated nanoparticles have recently been studied extensively for their biological compatibility, retention of cellular properties, and adaptability to a variety of therapeutic and imaging applications. This class of nanoparticles, which has been fabricated with a variety of cell membrane coatings, including those derived from red blood cells (RBCs), platelets, white blood cells, cancer cells, and bacteria, exhibit properties that are characteristic of the source cell. In this study, a new type of biological coating is created by fusing membrane material from two different cells, providing a facile method for further enhancing nanoparticle functionality. As a proof of concept, the development of dual-membrane-coated nanoparticles from the fused RBC membrane and platelet membrane is demonstrated. The resulting particles, termed RBC-platelet hybrid membrane-coated nanoparticles ([RBC-P]NPs), are thoroughly characterized, and it is shown that they carry properties of both source cells. Further, the [RBC-P]NP platform exhibits long circulation and suitability for further in vivo exploration. The reported strategy opens the door for the creation of biocompatible, custom-tailored biomimetic nanoparticles with varying hybrid functionalities, which may be used to overcome the limitations of current nanoparticle-based therapeutic and imaging platforms.
Topics: Biomimetics; Blood Platelets; Erythrocyte Membrane; Erythrocytes; Nanoparticles
PubMed: 28199033
DOI: 10.1002/adma.201606209 -
Advanced Science (Weinheim,... Feb 2022Spider silk is a natural polymeric fiber with high tensile strength, toughness, and has distinct thermal, optical, and biocompatible properties. The mechanical... (Review)
Review
Spider silk is a natural polymeric fiber with high tensile strength, toughness, and has distinct thermal, optical, and biocompatible properties. The mechanical properties of spider silk are ascribed to its hierarchical structure, including primary and secondary structures of the spidroins (spider silk proteins), the nanofibril, the "core-shell", and the "nano-fishnet" structures. In addition, spider silk also exhibits remarkable properties regarding humidity/water response, water collection, light transmission, thermal conductance, and shape-memory effect. This motivates researchers to prepare artificial functional fibers mimicking spider silk. In this review, the authors summarize the study of the structure and properties of natural spider silk, and the biomimetic preparation of artificial fibers from different types of molecules and polymers by taking some examples of artificial fibers exhibiting these interesting properties. In conclusion, biomimetic studies have yielded several noteworthy findings in artificial fibers with different functions, and this review aims to provide indications for biomimetic studies of functional fibers that approach and exceed the properties of natural spider silk.
Topics: Biomimetics; Fibroins; Protein Structure, Secondary; Silk; Tensile Strength
PubMed: 34927397
DOI: 10.1002/advs.202103965 -
Bioengineered 2015Three-dimensional (3D) tumor models generated in vitro using methods of tissue engineering are just starting to show potential for predictive studies of therapeutic...
Three-dimensional (3D) tumor models generated in vitro using methods of tissue engineering are just starting to show potential for predictive studies of therapeutic targets and screening of anticancer drugs. By mimicking some of the key features of the in vivo tumor environment, these models allow us to grow physiologically relevant tumors and study the initiation, progression and metastasis. Using a recent report on how to engineer bone tumors, we comment on the state-of-the-art in bioengineered bone tumors, with focus on the components required for recapitulating the in vivo milieu of bone tumor development.
Topics: Biomimetics; Bone Neoplasms; Humans; Models, Biological; Tissue Engineering
PubMed: 25616977
DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2015.1011039 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2022Some of the most interesting aspects of free radical chemistry that emerged in the last two decades are radical enzyme mechanisms, cell signaling cascades, antioxidant...
Some of the most interesting aspects of free radical chemistry that emerged in the last two decades are radical enzyme mechanisms, cell signaling cascades, antioxidant activities, and free radical-induced damage of biomolecules. In addition, identification of modified biomolecules opened the way for the evaluation of in vivo damage through biomarkers. When studying free radical-based chemical mechanisms, it is very important to establish biomimetic models, which allow the experiments to be performed in a simplified environment, but suitably designed to be in strict connection with cellular conditions. The 28 papers (11 reviews and 17 articles) published in the two Special Issues of on "Biomimetic Radical Chemistry and Applications (2019 and 2021)" show a remarkable range of research in this area. The biomimetic approach is presented with new insights and reviews of the current knowledge in the field of radical-based processes relevant to health, such as biomolecular damages and repair, signaling and biomarkers, biotechnological applications, and novel synthetic approaches.
Topics: Biomarkers; Biomimetics; Free Radicals
PubMed: 35408441
DOI: 10.3390/molecules27072042 -
International Journal of Molecular... Mar 2022A post-nanotechnology concept has been assigned to an emerging concept, nanoarchitectonics. Nanoarchitectonics aims to establish a discipline in which functional... (Review)
Review
A post-nanotechnology concept has been assigned to an emerging concept, nanoarchitectonics. Nanoarchitectonics aims to establish a discipline in which functional materials are fabricated from nano-scale components such as atoms, molecules, and nanomaterials using various techniques. Nanoarchitectonics opens ways to form a more unified paradigm by integrating nanotechnology with organic chemistry, supramolecular chemistry, material chemistry, microfabrication technology, and biotechnology. On the other hand, biological systems consist of rational organization of constituent molecules. Their structures have highly asymmetric and hierarchical features that allow for chained functional coordination, signal amplification, and vector-like energy and signal flow. The process of nanoarchitectonics is based on the premise of combining several different processes, which makes it easier to obtain a hierarchical structure. Therefore, nanoarchitectonics is a more suitable methodology for creating highly functional systems based on structural asymmetry and hierarchy like biosystems. The creation of functional materials by nanoarchitectonics is somewhat similar to the creation of functional systems in biological systems. It can be said that the goal of nanoarchitectonics is to create highly functional systems similar to those found in biological systems. This review article summarizes the synthesis of biomimetic and biological molecules and their functional structure formation from various viewpoints, from the molecular level to the cellular level. Several recent examples are arranged and categorized to illustrate such a trend with sections of (i) synthetic nanoarchitectonics for bio-related units, (ii) self-assembly nanoarchitectonics with bio-related units, (iii) nanoarchitectonics with nucleic acids, (iv) nanoarchitectonics with peptides, (v) nanoarchitectonics with proteins, and (vi) bio-related nanoarchitectonics in conjugation with materials.
Topics: Biomimetics; Biotechnology; Nanostructures; Nanotechnology; Peptides
PubMed: 35408937
DOI: 10.3390/ijms23073577 -
Integrative and Comparative Biology Oct 2020The adhesive toe pads of tree frogs have inspired the design of various so-called 'smooth' synthetic adhesives for wet environments. However, these adhesives do not... (Review)
Review
The adhesive toe pads of tree frogs have inspired the design of various so-called 'smooth' synthetic adhesives for wet environments. However, these adhesives do not reach the attachment performance of their biological models in terms of contact formation, maintenance of attachment, and detachment. In tree frogs, attachment is facilitated by an interconnected ensemble of superficial and internal morphological components, which together form a functional unit. To help bridging the gap between biological and bioinspired adhesives, in this review, we (1) provide an overview of the functional components of tree frog toe pads, (2) investigate which of these components (and attachment mechanisms implemented therein) have already been transferred into synthetic adhesives, and (3) highlight functional analogies between existing synthetic adhesives and tree frogs regarding the fundamental mechanisms of attachment. We found that most existing tree-frog-inspired adhesives mimic the micropatterned surface of the ventral epidermis of frog pads. Geometrical and material properties differ between these synthetic adhesives and their biological model, which indicates similarity in appearance rather than function. Important internal functional components such as fiber-reinforcement and muscle fibers for attachment control have not been considered in the design of tree-frog-inspired adhesives. Experimental work on tree-frog-inspired adhesives suggests that the micropatterning of adhesives with low-aspect-ratio pillars enables crack arresting and the drainage of interstitial liquids, which both facilitate the generation of van der Waals forces. Our analysis of experimental work on tree-frog-inspired adhesives indicates that interstitial liquids such as the mucus secreted by tree frogs play a role in detachment. Based on these findings, we provide suggestions for the future design of biomimetic adhesives. Specifically, we propose to implement internal fiber-reinforcements inspired by the fibrous structures in frog pads to create mechanically reinforced soft adhesives for high-load applications. Contractile components may stimulate the design of actuated synthetic adhesives with fine-tunable control of attachment strength. An integrative approach is needed for the design of tree-frog-inspired adhesives that are functionally analogous with their biological paradigm.
Topics: Adhesiveness; Adhesives; Animals; Anura; Biomimetics; Mucus
PubMed: 32413122
DOI: 10.1093/icb/icaa037 -
ACS Nano Dec 2022In the dynamic biological system, cells and tissues adapt to diverse environmental conditions and form memories, an essential aspect of training for survival and... (Review)
Review
In the dynamic biological system, cells and tissues adapt to diverse environmental conditions and form memories, an essential aspect of training for survival and evolution. An understanding of the biological training principles will inform the design of biomimetic materials whose properties evolve with the environment and offer routes to programmable soft materials, neuromorphic computing, living materials, and biohybrid robotics. In this perspective, we examine the mechanisms by which cells are trained by environmental cues. We outline the artificial platforms that enable biological training and examine the relationship between biological training and biomimetic materials design. We place emphasis on nanoscale material platforms which, given their applicability to chemical, mechanical and electrical stimulation, are critical to bridging natural and synthetic systems.
Topics: Biomimetics; Robotics; Biomimetic Materials
PubMed: 36516872
DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c08042