Recent progresses in layer-by-layer assembled biogenic capsules and their applications

In this review, we summarize the recent progress made in the fabrication of pure natural materials such as biogenic capsules. Unlike polyelectrolyte capsules, biogenic capsules are primarily prepared with pure natural components using layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly on sacrificial templates. These capsules have been developed as smart materials for guest molecule encapsulation and delivery in the last two decades. With the extreme demands on biodegradability and biocompatibility, biogenic capsules exhibit unique properties that can be integrated with special ligands or conjugated functional groups for the design of intelligent platforms, significantly enriching their functions and applications.