Fabrication of biconcave discoidal silica capsules and their uptake behavior by smooth muscle cells

Artificial cells for in vivo biomedical applications through red blood cell biomimicry

Recent research in artificial cell production holds promise for the development of delivery agents with therapeutic effects akin to real cells. To succeed in these applications, these systems need to survive the circulatory conditions. In this review we present strategies that, inspired by the endurance of red blood cells, have enhanced the viability of large, cell-like vehicles for in vivo therapeutic use, particularly focusing on giant unilamellar vesicles. Insights from red blood cells can guide modifications that could transform these platforms into advanced drug delivery vehicles, showcasing biomimicry's potential in shaping the future of therapeutic applications.

A decade of developing applications exploiting the properties of polyelectrolyte multilayer capsules

Transferring the layer-by-layer (LbL) coating approach from planar surfaces to spherical templates and subsequently dissolving these templates leads to the fabrication of polyelectrolyte multilayer capsules. The versatility of the coatings of capsules and their flexibility upon bringing in virtually any material into the coatings has quickly drawn substantial attention. Here, we provide an overview of the main developments in this field, highlighting the trends in the last decade. In the beginning, various methods of encapsulation and release are discussed followed by a broad range of applications, which were developed and explored. We also outline the current trends, where the range of applications is continuing to grow, including addition of whole new and different application areas.

Shape-Dependent Biodistribution of Biocompatible Silk Microcapsules

Microcapsules are emerging as promising microsize drug carriers due to their remarkable deformability. Shape plays a dominant role in determining their vascular transportation. Herein, we explored the effect of the shape of the microcapsules on the in vivo biodistribution for rational design of microcapsules to achieve optimized targeting efficiency. Silk fibroin, a biocompatible, biodegradable, and abundant material, was utilized as a building block to construct biconcave discoidal and spherical microcapsules with diameter of 1.8 μm and wall thickness of 20 nm. We have compared the cytocompatibility, cellular uptake, and biodistribution of both microcapsules. Both biconcave and spherical microcapsules exhibited excellent cytocompatibility and internalization into cancer cells. During blood circulation in mice, both microcapsules showed retention in liver and kidney and most underwent renal clearance. However, we observed significantly higher accumulation of biconcave silk microcapsules in lung compared with spherical microcapsules, and the accumulation was found to be stable in lung even after 3 days. The higher concentration of biconcave discoidal microcapsules found in lung arises from pulmonary environment, margination dynamics, and enhanced deformation in bloodstream. Red blood cell (RBC)-mimicking silk microcapsules demonstrated here can potentially serve as a promising platform for delivering drugs for lung diseases.

Emergence and Utility of Nonspherical Particles in Biomedicine

The importance of the size of targeted, spherical drug carriers has been previously explored and reviewed. Particle shape has emerged as an equally important parameter in determining the in vivo journey and efficiency of drug carrier systems. Researchers have invented techniques to better control the geometry of particles of many different materials, which have allowed for exploration of the role of particle geometry in the phases of drug delivery. The important biological processes include clearance by the immune system, trafficking to the target tissue, margination to the endothelial surface, interaction with the target cell, and controlled release of a payload. The review of current literature herein supports that particle shape can be altered to improve a system's targeting efficiency. Non-spherical particles can harness the potential of targeted drug carriers by enhancing targeted site accumulation while simultaneously decreasing side effects and mitigating some limitations faced by spherical carriers.