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Bioinspired and Biomimetic Nanomedicines
Zhaowei Chen1,2, Zejun Wang1,2, Zhen Gu1,3,2,4
1Department of Bioengineering , University of California , Los Angeles , California 90095 , United States.
Accounts of Chemical Research
|April 13, 2019
Summary
Researchers engineered bioinspired nanomedicines using synthetic cells and natural particulates for treating diabetes and cancer. These platforms mimic natural processes for enhanced drug delivery and therapy, including glucose-responsive insulin vesicles and cancer-targeting nanovesicles.
Area of Science:
- Nanomedicine
- Bioengineering
- Biomaterials
Background:
- Nanomaterials enhance disease diagnosis and treatment efficacy.
- Bioinspired and biomimetic approaches mimic natural systems for advanced nanomedicine.
- Understanding cellular interactions drives the development of new nanomedicine formulations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discuss recent progress in engineering bioinspired and biomimetic nanomedicine platforms.
- To develop rational designs for treating diabetes and cancer.
- To explore the use of synthetic and cellular systems for theranostic purposes.
Main Methods:
- Synthesized insulin granule-like vesicles mimicking pancreatic β-cells for glucose-responsive insulin delivery.
- Developed synthetic artificial cells with vesicle-in-vesicle structures for sensing glucose and releasing insulin.
- Engineered light-tuned, hypoxia-responsive nanovesicles for synergistic cancer therapy.
- Utilized genetic and cell engineering to create biomimetic nanomedicines from cell membranes expressing programmed death 1 (PD-1) receptors.
- Conjugated hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) with antibody-decorated platelets for leukemia treatment.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated glucose-responsive insulin delivery via transdermal or oral routes.
- Achieved dynamic insulin release from artificial cells via membrane fusion.
- Developed hypoxia-responsive nanovesicles for targeted cancer therapy.
- Generated PD-1 receptor-expressing platelets for cancer immunotherapy, inhibiting tumor recurrence.
- Showcased a cell-combination strategy using HSCs and platelets for leukemia suppression.
Conclusions:
- Bioinspired and biomimetic strategies offer promising avenues for advanced nanomedicine development.
- Engineered synthetic and cellular systems can effectively mimic natural processes for therapeutic applications.
- These approaches hold potential for treating complex diseases like diabetes and cancer.
