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Updated: Aug 1, 2025

Bridging the Bio-Electronic Interface with Biofabrication
Published on: June 6, 2012
Engineering Cell Membrane-Cloaked Catalysts as Multifaceted Artificial Peroxisomes for Biomedical Applications
Dongmei Yang1, Yuanjiao Tang1, Bihui Zhu1
1Department of Ultrasound, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Med-X Center for Materials, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
Abstract:
Artificial peroxisomes (APEXs) or peroxisome mimics have caught a lot of attention in nanomedicine and biomaterial science in the last decade, which have great potential in clinically diagnosing and treating diseases. APEXs are typically constructed from a semipermeable membrane that encloses natural enzymes or enzyme-mimetic catalysts to perform peroxisome-/enzyme-mimetic activities. The recent rapid progress regarding their biocatalytic stability, adjustable activity, and surface functionality has significantly promoted APEXs systems in real-life applications. In addition, developing a facile and versatile system that can simulate multiple biocatalytic tasks is advantageous. Here, the recent advances in engineering cell membrane-cloaked catalysts as multifaceted APEXs for diverse biomedical applications are highlighted and commented. First, various catalysts with single or multiple enzyme activities have been introduced as cores of APEXs. Subsequently, the extraction and function of cell membranes that are used as the shell are summarized. After that, the applications of these APEXs are discussed in detail, such as cancer therapy, antioxidant, anti-inflammation, and neuron protection. Finally, the future perspectives and challenges of APEXs are proposed and outlined. This progress review is anticipated to provide new and unique insights into cell membrane-cloaked catalysts and to offer significant new inspiration for designing future artificial organelles.
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