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      Bio-inspired nanomaterials for biomedical innovation

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      a , b , c
      Science and Technology of Advanced Materials
      Taylor & Francis

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          Abstract

          Nature is a source of inspiration for a wide range of areas in science and technology. In the field of materials sciences, learning from biological principles enables researchers to design and develop advanced materials, structures and tools that are capable of meeting demanding requirements. Bio-inspired nanomaterials are emerging as a promising field of research with a high potential for developing unprecedented approaches for managing human diseases. The significance of these materials is vast, ranging from applications in drug delivery and tissue engineering to sensors and diagnosis devices. Thus, innovation through bio-inspired nanomaterials has allowed great progress in biomedical applications with bio-mimetic capabilities, such as robotic nanodevices, organs-on-chips and tissue engineering. Moreover, recent advances in biotechnology have made it possible to directly isolate and engineer nanomaterials from biological sources, including cellular membranes, organelles and exosomes, as well as to combine them with synthetic nano-materials, providing novel features for advancing the biomedical field. The potential biomedical functions of the bio-inspired nanomaterials stem from the fact that the human biological system is made up of nanoscale self-assembly biomolecules. As such, the potential therapeutic applications of nanomaterials rely strongly on the similarity of their sizes with the cellular proteins as well as on their additional properties in terms of shape, chemical composition and surface charge. These features determine their intracellular access by endocytosis and by mechanical manners, such as membrane disruption[1]. In this focus issue, we present the progress in the development of bio-inspired stimuli-responsive nanomaterials for delivering bioactive agents. Dr. Gang Liu and his group have critically reviewed the recent progresses in biomimetic nanoparticles for the development of applications in drug targeting and for the emerging applications in theranostics, i.e. the synergistic combination of therapy and diagnosis through single platforms[2]. Moreover, Dr. Kanjiro Miyata and his team have presented the development of novel carriers that work as an artificial virus for the delivery of messenger RNA by exploiting the chemical degradability of polymers[3]. Beyond synthetic nanocarriers, Dr. Nobuyoshi Kosaka and Dr. Takahiro Ochiya, together with Dr. Tomofumi Yamamoto, critically reviewed current status of cell-derived exosomes, which are endogenous nanocarriers that can deliver biological information between cells and have distinct biological and physicochemical characteristics that make them unique for developing targeted drug delivery systems[4]. Using biological materials as templates for concrete biomedical applications is also presented in this issue with an accent on the development of agents for pin-point therapies toward improving the biocompatibility and specificity in targeting the diseased tissues. For such purposes, the source of biological materials has its own importance in increasing systemic tolerance and reducing potential inflammation. Thus, Dr. Ebara and his group proposed using viral templates for developing next-generation tumour-targeted agents for applications in the boron neutron capture therapy[5]. We would like to acknowledge all the authors for their outstanding contributions. We certainly believe that these works will provide inspiration to many. Also, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to the staff of Science and Technology of Advanced Materials for their kind assistance.

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          Most cited references5

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          Latest advances in extracellular vesicles: from bench to bedside

          ABSTRACT Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small membraned vesicles and approximately 50–150 nm in diameter. Almost all of the type of cells releases the EVs and circulates in the body fluids. EVs contain multiple functional components, such as mRNAs, microRNAs (miRNAs), DNAs, and proteins, which can be transferred to the recipient cells, resulting in phenotypic changes. Recently, EV research has focused on their potential as a drug delivery vehicle and in targeted therapy against specific molecules. Moreover, some surface proteins are specific to particular diseases, and therefore, EVs also have promise as biomarkers. In this concise review, we summarize the latest research focused on EVs, which have the potential to become a promising drug delivery method, biomarker, and new therapeutic target for improving the outcomes of cancer patients.
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            Functional biomimetic nanoparticles for drug delivery and theranostic applications in cancer treatment

            ABSTRACT Nanotechnology has been extensively utilized in the design and development of powerful strategies for drug delivery and cancer theranostic. Nanoplatforms as a drug delivery system have many advantages such as in vivo imaging, combined drug delivery, extended circulation time, and systemic controlled release. The functional biomimetic drug delivery could be realized by incorporating stimuli-responsive (pH, temperature, redox potential, etc.) properties into the nanocarrier system, allowing them to bypass biological barriers and arrive at the targeted area. In this review, we discuss the role of internal stimuli-responsive nanocarrier system for imaging and drug delivery in cancer therapy. The development of internal stimuli-responsive nanoparticles is highlighted for precision drug delivery applications, with a particular focus on in vivo imaging, drug release performance, and therapeutic benefits.
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              Tunable nonenzymatic degradability of N -substituted polyaspartamide main chain by amine protonation and alkyl spacer length in side chains for enhanced messenger RNA transfection efficiency

              ABSTRACT Degradability of polycations under physiological conditions is an attractive feature for their use in biomedical applications, such as the delivery of nucleic acids. This study aims to design polycations with tunable nonenzymatic degradability. A series of cationic N-substituted polyaspartamides were prepared to possess primary amine via various lengths of alkyl spacers in side chains. The degradation rate of each polyaspartamide derivative was determined by size exclusion chromatography under different pH conditions. The N-substituted polyaspartamide containing a 2-aminoethyl moiety in the side chain (PAsp(AE)) showed considerable degradability under physiological conditions (pH 7.4, 37 °C). In contrast, the N-substituted polyaspartamides bearing a longer alkyl spacer in the side chain, i.e. the 3-aminopropyl (PAsp(AP)) and 4-aminobutyl moieties (PAsp(AB)), more strongly suppressed degradation. Further, a positive correlation was observed between the degradation rate of N-substituted polyaspartamides and a deprotonation degree of primary amines in their side chains. Therefore, we conclude that the deprotonated primary amine in the side chain of N-substituted polyaspartamides can induce the degradation of the main chain through the activation of amide nitrogen in the side chain. When N-substituted polyaspartamides were utilized as a messenger RNA (mRNA) delivery vehicle via formation of polyion complexes (PICs), degradable PAsp(AE) elicited significantly higher mRNA expression efficiency in cultured cells compared to PAsp(AP) and PAsp(AB). The higher efficiency of PAsp(AE) might be due to the facilitated destabilization of PICs within the cells, directed toward mRNA release. Additionally, degradation of PAsp(AE) considerably reduced its cytotoxicity. Thus, our study highlights a useful design of well-defined cationic poly(amino acid)s with tunable nonenzymatic degradability.
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                Author and article information

                Journal
                Sci Technol Adv Mater
                Sci Technol Adv Mater
                Science and Technology of Advanced Materials
                Taylor & Francis
                1468-6996
                1878-5514
                1 July 2020
                2020
                : 21
                : 1
                : 420-421
                Affiliations
                [a ]Department of Material Engineering, School of Engineering, the University of Tokyo; , Tokyo, Japan
                [b ]Department of Bioengineering, Graduate School of Engineering, the University of Tokyo; , Tokyo, Japan
                [c ]State Key Lab Biotherapy, West China Hosp, Sichuan University; , Chengdu, P. R. China
                Author notes
                CONTACT Horacio Cabral horacio@ 123456bmw.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp Department of Bioengineering, Graduate School of Engineering, the University of Tokyo; , Tokyo, Japan
                Article
                1786948
                10.1080/14686996.2020.1786948
                7476521
                12c872d3-5f71-4ec9-88b6-e1e1bf14db0b
                © 2020 The Author(s). Published by National Institute for Materials Science in partnership with Taylor & Francis Group.

                This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

                History
                Page count
                Figures: 0, References: 5, Pages: 2
                Categories
                Introduction
                Focus on Bio-inspired nanomaterials

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