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Biomimetics (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2023Our knowledge of physics and chemistry is relatively well defined. Results from that knowledge are predictable as, largely, are those of their technical offspring such...
Our knowledge of physics and chemistry is relatively well defined. Results from that knowledge are predictable as, largely, are those of their technical offspring such as electrical, chemical, mechanical and civil engineering. By contrast, biology is relatively unconstrained and unpredictable. A factor common to all areas is the trade-off, which provides a means of defining and quantifying a problem and, ideally, its solution. In order to understand the anatomy of the trade-off and how to handle it, its development (as the dialectic) is tracked from Hegel and Marx to its implementation as dialectical materialism in Russian philosophy and TRIZ, the Theory of Invention. With the ready availability of mathematical techniques, such as multi-objective analysis and the Pareto set, the trade-off is well-adapted to bridging the gaps between the quantified and the unquantifiable, allowing modelling and the transfer of concepts by analogy. It is thus an ideal tool for biomimetics. An intracranial endoscope can be derived with little change from the egg-laying tube of a wood wasp. More complex transfers become available as the technique is developed. Most important, as more trade-offs are analyzed, their results are stored to be used again in the solution of problems. There is no other system in biomimetics which can do this.
PubMed: 37366860
DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics8020265 -
Advanced Science (Weinheim,... Sep 2023In clinical practice, repairing osteochondral defects presents a challenge due to the varying biological properties of articular cartilages and subchondral bones. Thus,...
In clinical practice, repairing osteochondral defects presents a challenge due to the varying biological properties of articular cartilages and subchondral bones. Thus, elucidating how spatial microenvironment-specific biomimetic scaffolds can be used to simultaneously regenerate osteochondral tissue is an important research topic. Herein, a novel bioinspired double-network hydrogel scaffold produced via 3D printing with tissue-specific decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) and human adipose mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived exosomes is described. The bionic hydrogel scaffolds promote rat bone marrow MSC attachment, spread, migration, proliferation, and chondrogenic and osteogenic differentiation in vitro, as determined based on the sustained release of bioactive exosomes. Furthermore, the 3D-printed microenvironment-specific heterogeneous bilayer scaffolds efficiently accelerate the simultaneous regeneration of cartilage and subchondral bone tissues in a rat preclinical model. In conclusion, 3D dECM-based microenvironment-specific biomimetics encapsulated with bioactive exosomes can serve as a novel cell-free recipe for stem cell therapy when treating injured or degenerative joints. This strategy provides a promising platform for complex zonal tissue regeneration whilst holding attractive clinical translation potential.
Topics: Rats; Humans; Animals; Tissue Scaffolds; Osteogenesis; Hydrogels; Exosomes; Cartilage; Bone Regeneration; Printing, Three-Dimensional
PubMed: 37424038
DOI: 10.1002/advs.202303650 -
Discover Nano Dec 2023Ischemic stroke is one of the most severe neurological disorders with limited therapeutic strategies. The utilization of nanoparticle drug delivery systems is a... (Review)
Review
ABSTRACT
Ischemic stroke is one of the most severe neurological disorders with limited therapeutic strategies. The utilization of nanoparticle drug delivery systems is a burgeoning field and has been widely investigated. Among these, biomimetic drug delivery systems composed of biogenic membrane components and synthetic nanoparticles have been extensively highlighted in recent years. Biomimetic membrane camouflage presents an effective strategy to prolong circulation, reduce immunogenicity and enhance targeting. For one thing, biomimetic nanoparticles reserve the physical and chemical properties of intrinsic nanoparticle. For another, the biological functions of original source cells are completely inherited. Compared to conventional surface modification methods, this approach is more convenient and biocompatible. In this review, membrane-based nanoparticles derived from different donor cells were exemplified. The prospect of future biomimetic nanoparticles in ischemic stroke therapy was discussed.
PubMed: 36969494
DOI: 10.1186/s11671-023-03824-6 -
Nature Communications Aug 2023Nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems have gained much attention in the treatment of various malignant tumors during the past decades. However, limited tumor...
Nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems have gained much attention in the treatment of various malignant tumors during the past decades. However, limited tumor penetration of nanodrugs remains a significant hurdle for effective tumor therapy due to the existing biological barriers of tumoral microenvironment. Inspired by bubble machines, here we report the successful fabrication of biomimetic nanodevices capable of in-situ secreting cell-membrane-derived nanovesicles with smaller sizes under near infrared (NIR) laser irradiation for synergistic photothermal/photodynamic therapy. Porous Au nanocages (AuNC) are loaded with phase transitable perfluorohexane (PFO) and hemoglobin (Hb), followed by oxygen pre-saturation and indocyanine green (ICG) anchored 4T1 tumor cell membrane camouflage. Upon slight laser treatment, the loaded PFO undergoes phase transition due to surface plasmon resonance effect produced by AuNC framework, thus inducing the budding of outer cell membrane coating into small-scale nanovesicles based on the pore size of AuNC. Therefore, the hyperthermia-triggered generation of nanovesicles with smaller size, sufficient oxygen supply and anchored ICG results in enhanced tumor penetration for further self-sufficient oxygen-augmented photodynamic therapy and photothermal therapy. The as-developed biomimetic bubble nanomachines with temperature responsiveness show great promise as a potential nanoplatform for cancer treatment.
Topics: Biomimetics; Hyperthermia, Induced; Photochemotherapy; Phototherapy; Indocyanine Green; Oxygen; Nanoparticles; Cell Line, Tumor
PubMed: 37567901
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40474-9 -
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica. B Nov 2023Atherosclerosis (AS) is a leading cause of the life-threatening cardiovascular disease (CVD), creating an urgent need for efficient, biocompatible therapeutics for... (Review)
Review
Atherosclerosis (AS) is a leading cause of the life-threatening cardiovascular disease (CVD), creating an urgent need for efficient, biocompatible therapeutics for diagnosis and treatment. Biomimetic nanomedicines (bNMs) are moving closer to fulfilling this need, pushing back the frontier of nano-based drug delivery systems design. This review seeks to outline how these nanomedicines (NMs) might work to diagnose and treat atherosclerosis, to trace the trajectory of their development to date and in the coming years, and to provide a foundation for further discussion about atherosclerotic theranostics.
PubMed: 37969739
DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2022.11.014 -
ACS Nano Dec 2023The increasing understanding of ferroptosis has indicated its role and therapeutic potential in cancer; however, this knowledge has yet to be translated into effective...
The increasing understanding of ferroptosis has indicated its role and therapeutic potential in cancer; however, this knowledge has yet to be translated into effective therapies. Glioblastoma (GBM) patients face a bleak prognosis and encounter challenges due to the limited treatment options available. In this study, we conducted a genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screening in the presence of a ferroptosis inducer (RSL3) to identify the key driver genes involved in ferroptosis. We identified ALOX15, a key lipoxygenase (LOX), as an essential driver of ferroptosis. Small activating RNA (saRNA) was used to mediate the expression of ALOX15 promoted ferroptosis in GBM cells. We then coated saALOX15-loaded mesoporous polydopamine (MPDA) with Angiopep-2-modified macrophage membranes (MMs) to reduce the clearance by the mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS) and increase the ability of the complex to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) during specific targeted therapy of orthotopic GBM. These generated hybrid nanoparticles (NPs) induced ferroptosis by mediating mitochondrial dysfunction and rendering mitochondrial morphology abnormal. In vivo, the modified MM enabled the NPs to target GBM cells, exert a marked inhibitory effect on GBM progression, and promote GBM radiosensitivity. Our results reveal ALOX15 to be a promising therapeutic target in GBM and suggest a biomimetic strategy that depends on the biological properties of MMs to enhance the in vivo performance of NPs for treating GBM.
Topics: Humans; Glioblastoma; Biomimetics; Ferroptosis; Macrophages; Nanoparticles; Cell Line, Tumor; Brain Neoplasms
PubMed: 37991252
DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c07555 -
Biomimetics (Basel, Switzerland) Oct 2023Biomimetics, which are similar to natural compounds that play an important role in the metabolism, manifestation of functional activity and reproduction of various... (Review)
Review
Biomimetics, which are similar to natural compounds that play an important role in the metabolism, manifestation of functional activity and reproduction of various fungi, have a pronounced attraction in the current search for new effective antifungals. Actual trends in the development of this area of research indicate that unnatural amino acids can be used as such biomimetics, including those containing halogen atoms; compounds similar to nitrogenous bases embedded in the nucleic acids synthesized by fungi; peptides imitating fungal analogs; molecules similar to natural substrates of numerous fungal enzymes and quorum-sensing signaling molecules of fungi and yeast, etc. Most parts of this review are devoted to the analysis of semi-synthetic and synthetic antifungal peptides and their targets of action. This review is aimed at combining and systematizing the current scientific information accumulating in this area of research, developing various antifungals with an assessment of the effectiveness of the created biomimetics and the possibility of combining them with other antimicrobial substances to reduce cell resistance and improve antifungal effects.
PubMed: 37999154
DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics8070513 -
Frontiers in Bioengineering and... 2023The incidence of tissue and organ damage caused by various diseases is increasing worldwide. Tissue engineering is a promising strategy of tackling this problem because... (Review)
Review
The incidence of tissue and organ damage caused by various diseases is increasing worldwide. Tissue engineering is a promising strategy of tackling this problem because of its potential to regenerate or replace damaged tissues and organs. The biochemical and biophysical cues of biomaterials can stimulate and induce biological activities such as cell adhesion, proliferation and differentiation, and ultimately achieve tissue repair and regeneration. Micro/nano materials are a special type of biomaterial that can mimic the microstructure of tissues on a microscopic scale due to its precise construction, further providing scaffolds with specific three-dimensional structures to guide the activities of cells. The study and application of biomimetic micro/nano-materials have greatly promoted the development of tissue engineering. This review aims to provide an overview of the different types of micro/nanomaterials, their preparation methods and their application in tissue regeneration.
PubMed: 37469449
DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1205792 -
Biomimetics (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2023Tendon tissue connects muscle to bone and plays crucial roles in stress transfer. Tendon injury remains a significant clinical challenge due to its complicated... (Review)
Review
Tendon tissue connects muscle to bone and plays crucial roles in stress transfer. Tendon injury remains a significant clinical challenge due to its complicated biological structure and poor self-healing capacity. The treatments for tendon injury have advanced significantly with the development of technology, including the use of sophisticated biomaterials, bioactive growth factors, and numerous stem cells. Among these, biomaterials that the mimic extracellular matrix (ECM) of tendon tissue would provide a resembling microenvironment to improve efficacy in tendon repair and regeneration. In this review, we will begin with a description of the constituents and structural features of tendon tissue, followed by a focus on the available biomimetic scaffolds of natural or synthetic origin for tendon tissue engineering. Finally, we will discuss novel strategies and present challenges in tendon regeneration and repair.
PubMed: 37366841
DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics8020246 -
International Journal of Nanomedicine 2024The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays an important role in various stages of tumor generation, metastasis, and evasion of immune monitoring and treatment. TME targeted... (Review)
Review
The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays an important role in various stages of tumor generation, metastasis, and evasion of immune monitoring and treatment. TME targeted therapy is based on TME components, related pathways or active molecules as therapeutic targets. Therefore, TME targeted therapy based on environmental differences between TME and normal cells has been widely studied. Biomimetic nanocarriers with low clearance, low immunogenicity, and high targeting have enormous potential in tumor treatment. This review introduces the composition and characteristics of TME, including cancer‑associated fibroblasts (CAFs), extracellular matrix (ECM), tumor blood vessels, non-tumor cells, and the latest research progress of biomimetic nanoparticles (NPs) based on TME. It also discusses the opportunities and challenges of clinical transformation of biomimetic nanoparticles.
Topics: Humans; Biomimetics; Tumor Microenvironment; Neoplasms; Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts; Extracellular Matrix
PubMed: 38192633
DOI: 10.2147/IJN.S441135